Mildred Avery Rankin, 89, of Glen Alpine, North Carolina, entered into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Mildred was born on September 7th, 1934, to the late Bulo and Bertha Avery, the fourth of seven children. She attended Willow Tree Primary School and the esteemed Olive Hill High School (Class of 1953), where she was a passionate student and athlete.  She was a starting forward on the girl's basketball team and loved sharing stories of her time at Olive Hill, especially reminiscing about the winning era of "the 3M's"
(Mildred, Mamie & Martha), coached by their beloved teacher, Mr. John Carson.  Mildred was an inaugural member of the Olive High School Marching Band as a majorette.

As a child, Mildred attended Willow Tree and Shiloh AME churches. She was a member of Mt. Herman AME Church for 66 years, a member of various organizations, and a former president of the Johnson Bowman Missionary Society.  She attended Winston Salem Teachers College, now Winston Salem State University, majoring in education. She taught briefly in the same primary school she attended, as a substitute, having several of her nieces as students.  Mildred had a 30-year career at Western Carolina Center, now J Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, retiring as a beloved and respected supervisor "on the hill".  Her last cottage was Spruce Cottage. During her tenure, she received numerous
accolades for her leadership and dedication to the residents. In 1972, she was a recipient of the Kathleen Stroupe Award.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Mary Cuthberson, James (Grace) Avery, Dorothy (Roosevelt) Berry, Corine (Charles) Hunter, Nathaniel (Dorothy) Avery, Katie (William) Ervin. Her beloved husband Howard Rankin and adored sons Roderick and Maurice Rankin. Left to mourn her passing are her daughter Rita Rankin, her grandchildren Gretchen Wallace, Allyson Wallace, Ileah Wallace, Donovan Rankin, and one great-grandson; her brother Herman Avery, along with her adopted grandchildren, Donzale Hood, Jamaal Ferguson, Octavia Hill, Kimberly and Jamesha Corpening. Also surviving are her dear nieces, nephews, and friends.  Mildred married the love of her life the late Howard Wilson Rankin on December 20th,1957. They were married for 46 years and shared a commitment to their faith, family, and community. Their love story is worthy of a movie and together they shared a beautiful life and family. Mildred lived her life dedicated to her faith in God, her
family, and education. She will be remembered for her love of God, her service to others, and her generous heart. She loved music, her flowers, baking, and spending time with her loved ones. She loved watching basketball, especially her Duke Blue Devils.

A homegoing celebration will be held Tuesday April 2, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the Corpening Memorial Chapel of McCain Funeral Home & Cremations, LLC; interment will follow at the Mt. Herman A.M.E. Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

The service will be livestreamed on the McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook page and YouTube Channel; the links are found below:

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/mccainfuneralhome/

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4qb7IT7sO-Kc0BRs05J-A