Obituary for
Mildred Adele Elkins (Holland)
Mrs. Mildred Adele Holland Elkins, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law. In November she celebrated her 92nd birthday and enjoyed Thanksgiving with her family.
Mildred was born in Pensacola, Florida to Willie Abbey and William Canon Holland. Her twin sister Grace died soon after birth. In 1933, as a child she and her family survived a major earthquake in Long Beach, CA which began, for her, a lifetime of overcoming adversity. She struggled throughout life with a severe hearing disability and many surgical operations without complaining.
She graduated from Coffee High School where she was a three-year cheerleader and was affectionately named “Mildookie” by her close friends. She and her siblings Virginia, Betty, Billy and Rose were known as wonderful dancers. More than once, she pulled a reluctant Stanley to the dance floor to enjoy big band music.
Her marriage in 1947 to the love of her life, Noah Stanley Elkins, took place at Holland’s Boarding House on the corner of Tuscaloosa Street and Wood Avenue. She and Stanley then moved to Nashville, where he attended Gupton-Jones Mortuary School. To make ends meet, she worked as a typist at The Upper Room headquarters and as a secretary at the Davidson County Health Department. Following graduation, they returned to Florence where he began a lifetime of service to others and she became an attentive mom and supportive wife.
She was a wonderful homemaker and excellent cook and had a servant’s heart, sharing her talents with her family and friends over her lifetime. Her recipes continue to be used by Jeanne, and enjoyed by others, many prepared with utensils passed to Jeanne from Mildred and from Mildred’s mother Grand Willie Holland.
At a time when couples regularly entertained in their homes, she was the consummate hostess. Later she enjoyed travel with Stanley, who was serving as an officer of the National Funeral Directors Association, always returning with gifts for her family and friends. She was an excellent bridge player and was very lucky at playing bingo. Throughout life, her family enjoyed the love of family pets and she had missed her sweet dachshund, Daisy.
She worked at Sears, Roebuck & Co., Elkins Funeral Home and always conscious of fashion, The Village Shop and Kreisman’s Ladies Shop.
She became a Christian as a young lady and affirmed that fact many times in her life. She enjoyed membership early in her life at Highland Baptist Church, later at North Wood United Methodist Church and was a member of First United Methodist Church, Florence. She was a long-time member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.
She is survived by her daughter, Jean Elizabeth Chenault and husband Steve, and her son William Stanley “Billy” Elkins, grandchildren Abbey Chenault Thompson and her children Maggie Elizabeth, Grace Brooke and Hunter Garrett Thompson, of Pelham, Stephen Elkins Chenault and his daughter Margaret Lucile (Lucy) Chenault, William Stanley Elkins II, Port Hueneme, California and Noah Holland Elkins and his daughter Kaylan Grace Elkins.
A service to remember Mildred’s life will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Robert Sparkman and Rev. Dr. Carl Gebhardt officiating. Visitation will follow in the atrium of the church. The committal service will be Saturday morning in the Florence Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers include her godson Peter L. Akers III, Price Harrison, Ken Cabler, Don Morrison, David Locker, Tony Lee and David Potts.
Mildred’s family offer their deep appreciation to the knowledgeable, supportive and caring staff of Hospice of the Shoals and Dr. Robert Webb without whose help her last few months would not have been as comfortable. In particular, we thank, Carly Kelley, Tiffany Romine, Kaye Ray, Debbie Collum, Michelle Cooper, Lisa Chandler, Jan Sheppard, David Rushlow, Cynthia Rollins, April Daniel, Stephanie Clemmons, Beverly Haddock and Vikki Stout. She and her family are also blessed to have met and had the loving care of Barbara Corbett, Ruth Carpenter, Shirley Butler, Anita Gargis and Dee Mussleman and Charlena Hillman of Eldercare Services.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Hospice of the Shoals, The Salvation Army or Chloe’s Fund, c/o Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter, which helps with the medical needs of shelter animals.
One word frees us from all the weight and pain of life. That word is love.
