Barbourville, Ky. – Elizabeth Mills, 93, of Scalf, Kentucky, passed away surrounded by loving family on February 22, 2022. Elizabeth was the daughter of Mealie Mattingly Mills and Sollie Mills born to them on June 20, 1928, in Knox County, Kentucky. On September 22, 1951, Elizabeth united in marriage with Chester Mills and to this union five children were born.
Elizabeth will forever be remembered for her kindheartedness, and unwavering devotion to her family and faith. She was a wonderful homemaker, creating a loving home full of laughter, delicious food, and music. Elizabeth maintained a bountiful vegetable garden, canned, and quilted. She was a fantastic cook, filling her home with savory smells from her homecooked meals. Elizabeth associated food with love and delighted in making sure her family, and friends, were well fed. Elizabeth’s children remember their mother never taking a bite of food until she was certain they were fed. Some of her most requested recipes were, chocolate gravy and biscuits, sugar syrup and biscuits, soup beans, chicken and dumplings, and chocolate cake. Elizabeth also enjoyed music and sharing it with others. She was a talented singer and guitar player. At home, she often had her children sit in a circle on the floor while playing the guitar and singing to them. At church, her home away from home, Elizabeth enjoyed singing in the choir. She was a devoted Christian, attending Jeff’s Creek Baptist Church for many years where she served as Song Leader. In her later years, Elizabeth attended Salt Gum Baptist Church where she was bestowed the term of endearment “Lizzie”. Elizabeth felt her fellow church members were family, especially the elder members of the congregation whom she greatly respected, and in turn was much loved by them.
In addition to her parents, Mealie Mattingly Mills and Sollie Mills, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her beloved husband Chester Mills, son Everett Mills, grandson Michael Everett Broughton, grandson Jason Mills, brother Lee H. Mills and sister-in-law Helen Mills, brother Ben F. Mills and sister-in-law Rosa Mills, brother Jim Matt Mills, brother Clarence Roy Mills, brother Tip Mills and sister-in-law Classie Mills, sister Rosa Mills Gregory, sister Sarah Baker and brother-in-law Obie Baker, and son-in-law Wayne Broughton.
Left behind to mourn her passing is son Clifford Mills, daughter Ruby Broughton, daughter Lilly May Broughton and son-in-law Terry Broughton, daughter Kathy Ann Bruner and son-in-law David Bruner. Eight cherished grandchildren: Tommy Mills, Ruby Meade (Brad), Lucas Broughton (Courtney), Holly Smith (Andrew), Kevin Broughton (Amanda), Jennifer Stacy (Kyle), Travis Bruner (Jessica), and Casey Owens (Will), twenty-three great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren also survive Elizabeth and will remember her fondly.
The Mills family will receive friends at Hopper Funeral Home on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. On Sunday, February 27, 2022, the Mills Family will receive friends at Salt Gum Baptist Church from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour of 2:00 PM. Reverend Kennon Roark will officiate with assistance from Reverend David Mounce. Musical tributes will be performed by Reverend Kennon Roark, Roxie Bingham, and the Salt Gum Baptist Church Choir. Interment will follow the funeral service in the Levi-Bargo Cemetery at Salt Gum, Kentucky. Casket Bearers are Tommy Mills, Kevin Broughton, Travis Bruner, Lucas Broughton, Tytan Mills, Andrew Smith, Will Owens, Brad Meade, Kyle Stacy, and Jerry Baker. Honorary Casket Bearers are Terry Broughton and David Bruner.
The Mills Family expresses a special thank you to Bluegrass Hospice Care and to Hopper Funeral Home for their compassionsate care and service.
The Hopper Family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, our Directors, Mrs. Bonita Bingham Creech and Mr. Robin Reese, and our staff express sincere condolences to the family and friends of Elizabeth Mills.
Hopper Funeral Home, Inc., established 117 years ago, is in charge of servicing all arrangements for Elizabeth Mills.
