Mildred Louise (Cockerham) Carter

TUSCOLA: Mildred Louise (Cockerham) Carter, 90, went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 10, 2022. A graveside service will be held on Saturday July 16, 2022, at 10:00am in the Buffalo Gap Cemetery, Kenneth Cunningham officiating, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held on Friday, July 15 from 5 to 7pm at the funeral home.
Mildred was born in Tullos, Louisiana on November 26, 1931, to James Isaac (Ike) and Artilda Anne (Golden) Cockerham. She attended school in Jena, she later moved to West Texas calling the Midland-Odessa and Monahan's area home until she moved to the Abilene and Tuscola area.
Mom's caring heart led her to the health care industry. She served in many of the areas long term care facilities as the head of dispensary of medicine for the patients or residents. She worked up until her 83rd year in home health care.
Mom enjoyed her gardens, the bigger, bolder, and brighter the color of the flower she grew the happier it made her. She loved her family and grandchildren; she was the happiest when she was chasing them. It tickled her pink when the extra special great grandchildren arrived on the scene and then with the birth of her one great-great-grandchild she was truly overjoyed. Mom never passed up the opportunity to dote on her dog or cat. While sitting with her favorite pets, she would pass the time reading the bible, she was very loyal to her church and to the fellow members of Elm Valley Community Church.
Mom was true to her generation and never was idle, even when resting she was always busy with hand work, embroidery being her favorite, we will deeply miss her.
She is survived by daughters, Glenda Cocker of Early, Cathy Lynn and husband Robert of Tuscola, Lucy Adams and husband Lenny of Tuscola; son, Stacey Thate and wife Denice of Palmer; she is also survived by seventeen grandchildren, forty-four great grandchildren, and one very special great- great- grandchild.
She was preceded in death by parents, Ike and Artilda Cockerham, daughter Diane Myers (2020), son, Norman Samples (2011), sister, Melba Jean Cockerham, brothers, Earl, Jimmy, Larry, and J.W. Cockerham.
The family would like to thank Cathy for the outstanding care she provided to Mom in her final years.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Mom's favorite two charities Lokota Kids, St. Joseph's Indian School, P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325-0100 or to St. Jude Children's Hospital, St. Jude Honors, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.