Mildred McKeithen, passed on July 19, 2021. She was born in Vass, North Carolina on July 12,1944 about 15 mins from Southern Pines, North Carolina. Mildred was raised by her grandfather, Edwin McKeithen, which she thought the world of with great admiration. Edwin was blind and had one leg but despite his disabilities he managed to successfully raise all his children and Mildred on his own.

Mildred graduated high school and attended college with studies in Communications. She then moved to Connecticut where she took a great employment opportunity at Bell South Atlantic (now owned by AT&T). She was employed there with 30 years of service until she retired on November 11, 1995. In 2000 she decided to move back to North Carolina to enjoy her home roots. She settled in Raleigh to enjoy retirement. Mildred enjoyed shopping, interior design, and cooking. She especially enjoyed taking frequent weekend shopping spree trips to New York City. She loved Lord & Taylor’s department store as well. She was a faithful, loving, and devoted Christian woman who attended church regularly.

Her religious beliefs were evident, you knew this woman loved the Lord and she would proclaim that. She paid her 10% tithes faithfully; however, she also believed in paying herself as well with the finer things in life that she didn’t have growing up. She showed this with her attire. Ms. Mildred stayed dressed beautifully from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet every time she stepped in the sanctuary for praise and worship, going to work, or just stepping out.

She is survived by her only child, Jewel Dior Rankins, her daughter which stayed by her bedside until her last breath; as well as her and her two grandchildren which she loves wholeheartedly, Tristen Mi’Lee Keene (13) and Omari Zane Rankins (2).