Mills, Edith Mae Jennelle

Edith Mae Jennelle Mills, of Christiansburg, age ninety years and eight months young, left peacefully from this earth to be with the Lord, Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 4:16 p.m. from Heritage Hall in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Edith was born March 15, 1916 in Cambria, Virginia to the late Walter Evans Jennelle and Lilly Maude Agnew Jennelle. She moved to the city of Radford in 1937 with her family at the age of 21. In 1951 Edith married the late William Watson (Bill) Mills of Radford. In 1969 she and Bill bought a home at 1102 Downey St. in Radford where they lived until his death in 1973.

Edith remained in the home until March 2004, when, because of failing health, she sold her home and moved back to the Cambria area, now North Christiansburg. Edith resided at 90 N. Surry Circle with her nephew, Eugene Allen (Gene) Jennelle and his wife Elizabeth June (Moye) Jennelle. In January of this year Edith moved to Heritage Hall Healthcare Center.

June has been Edith’s primary caregiver since January of 2000. Preceding Edith in death in addition to her parents and husband, was one infant and all her brothers and sisters, Richard Agnew Jennelle, Walter Calvin Jennelle, Robert Howary (Bunny) Jennelle, and William Fredrick (Billy) Jennelle, Annie Jennelle Roberts, and Virgie Jennelle Henderson. Also preceding Edith was a special nephew, Michael S. (Mike) Jennelle, and a very special friend, Mont Dale Shumate.

Surviving Edith in addition to Gene and June are many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. Also three sisters-in-law, Lola (Huntie) Jennelle of Salem, Beula Jennelle of Radford and Alta Gravley Mills of Parrott. Alta has been Edith’s closest friend for over 60 years. And also her special friends, Ed and Ivah Phipps of Radford, and her friends at Tyler Ave. First Christian Church.

For those who knew Edith from years-gone-by, they knew her to have been for the most part of her life a Care Giver. Edith is also remembered for her sewing skills and talents in making doll clothes. For many years Edith refurbished discarded dolls, making new clothes for them and returning them to local charities to be given out at Christmas. Edith recently displayed two of her dolls and a number of her homemade doll dresses for Legendary Days at Heritage Hall. Edith was always at her happiest while sewing.

On behalf of Edith, Gene and June would like to give special thanks and our love to Dr. K.M. Sowinski and the entire staff of Heritage Hall Healthcare Center for your sweet care and loving attention over the past 11 months, and also to Medi-Home Health and Hospice for standing watch with us and giving of your physical, mental and spiritual resources for the past three months to make this journey easier for Edith. God Bless you all.

Edith was a member of First Christian Church in Radford where she made some special friends over the years. Our thanks to Pastor Gina Rae, Christine Reisman and Alice Galimore for all your visits and calls these past few months, this meant a lot to Edith.

There will be no visitation viewing, but there will be a special Memorial Service honoring Edith’s life on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 4 p.m. conducted by The Pastors of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Gina Rae and Chris Reisman. There will be a private burial at Highland Memory Gardens in the Garden of the Good Shepherd, Dublin, Va., preceding the service. The DeVilbiss Funeral Home, Taylor Ave., Radford, Va. is handling the arrangements. Flowers are appreciated but in lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations please be made to the building fund at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 400 Tyler Ave., Radford, Va. 24141 or to the Activities Department of Heritage Hall Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 3610 South Main Street, Blacksburg, Va. 24060.