Mildred Spears

Mildred Lee (Aldridge) Spears passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014, peacefully in her sleep while surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Ambrose Spears, parents Annie Louise (Robinson) Aldridge and Robert Calaway Aldridge, brothers Willis, Ashley, and C.L. Aldridge, and sisters Bertha Mix, Geneva Aller, Suvilla Cummings, Sylvia Hooks, and Reva Langrell. She is survived by daughter Janis Prater (Calvin), grandchildren Shannon Keener (Kevin) and Todd Prater (Alicia), great-grandchildren Alexandria, Whitney, Mason and Maddie, sister Robbie Moon (Wally), many nieces and nephews, and countless others including extended family, church family, neighbors and friends. She was the fifth of ten children, born during World War I. During her long and fruitful life, she experienced the Great Depression, as well as every war in the remaining years of the 20th century. She married her husband Frank Spears in 1937 at the ripe age of 19, and before that was considered an "old maid". She was a faithful Southern Baptist, studied her bible daily, and taught Sunday school to both children and adults for over sixty years. She attended Crystal Valley Baptist Church with her husband, but after he passed moved her membership to 47th Street Baptist Church, where she was a member until her death. She was a proud, founding member of the Golden Rule Sunday School class, which she taught until her eyesight became too poor to study her lesson plans. She was an excellent cook, and in addition to helping her husband run the family farm, she worked for Pulaski County Special School District in the cafeteria of Oak Grove High School, feeding generations of students, from 1965 until she retired in 1989. In her spare time, she cared for her extended family members, and many nieces and nephews. She donated time to her churches, always preparing dishes for potlucks, helping with Vacation Bible School, and visiting those who were sick, hospitalized, or unable to attend church services. Her greatest love was her family. She was always cooking big dinners, including fabulous desserts, taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, canning fruits and vegetables, making jelly, rolls and divinity, for which she was famous. She showed love to her friends and family by making pies for their special occasions. She was lovingly known as "Granny" to family and friends alike. Before macular degeneration took her eyesight, she studied her bible daily and spent time gardening, feeding the birds and squirrels, and sitting on her deck enjoying the majesty of God's creation. Funeral services will be held 10: a.m., Wednesday at North Little Rock Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mayflower Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the American Cancer Society, or to the 47th St. Baptist Church in her honor. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.