Mildred Cecil Hughes

Mildred, also known as “The Original”, Millie, Mama, and Pickle Grandma, flew peacefully at the age of 90 into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 7:47 PM. She was born in Philadelphia, MS on October 17, 1927 to Eugene & Josephine (Spears) Philips. Mildred will be remembered for her words of wisdom, kind heart, infectious laugh, love of traveling, and so much more. Mildred lived a long, fulfilling life. She was very family-centered and cared deeply for each and every member of her very large family. She loved Jesus and was not afraid to tell anyone about Him. She instilled that love into her entire family. She was a member of Success Baptist Church in Saucier, MS and attended Old Town Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, MS with her daughter. She had a passion for nursing and enjoyed helping others. She worked as a nurse at South Mississippi Regional Center and several nursing homes in Mississippi and Florida. She also held various jobs over her long life in Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida. She was preceded in death by ones that met her at those pearly gates of Heaven: her husband, Joseph Paul Hughes, Sr.; parents, Eugene and Josephine (Spears) Philips; 4 siblings, Richard Phillips, Jerry Phillips, Lena Fleming, and Erlene Ward; 5 children, Betty Howse Phillips Braden, Diane Hughes Tankersley, Donna Hughes Parker, Joseph Paul Hughes Jr., Randy Hughes Miller; and several sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Those here waiting to see her again at Heaven’s pearly gates are her children, Barbara (Paul) Chronister of Big Sandy, TN, Dorothy Zirger of Saucier, MS, Debbie Tankersley of Waveland, MS, James Howse of Richmond Hill, GA, Mary Lu (Gerald) Haymans of Richmond Hill, GA, Robert Hughes of Waveland, MS, and Kaye (Danny) Malicoat of Gulfport, MS; sons-in-laws, John Tankersley of Waveland, MS and Larry Braden of Joseph, OR; sisters, Bonnie Moore of Bogalusa, LA, and Mae Oaks of Philadelphia, MS. She is also survived by 29 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, 27 great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other beloved family members and friends in Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida. Funeral services and Fellowship of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 6, at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, MS 39503. Visitation for friends will be from 2 pm – 4 pm, with the funeral service at 4 pm. Mildred will be laid to rest beside her loving husband with a graveside service on Saturday, June 9, at Old Anderson Church Cemetery in Collins, GA at 11 am. Arrangements are being provided by Carter Funeral Home Bryan Chapel. Online condolences can be made at www.carterbryanchapel.com and www.riemannfamily.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mildred Cecil Hughes, please visit our flower store.