Lorraine Ellen Mills, 92, a long-time resident of Hampton, VA, passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, after a brief illness. She was born on January 28, 1931, in Urbana, IL to the late Arthur Foster and Daisy Belle (nee Gilmer) Dyson. She served for 25 years as the secretary of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hampton and was preceded in death by her husband Maj (ret) Harold L. Mills, and siblings Katherine Lasater, and Mabel Bourgois, and Austin A.R. Dyson.
She is survived by her four daughters, Deborah Julian and husband Charles of Alabama, Sharon Mills, Cynthia Heier and husband Chris, Brenda Bell and husband Webb, grandson Christian Bell and wife Stephanie of New York, great-grandchildren, Abigail and Mason, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Lorraine was especially proud of working in her younger years as the secretary for the Dean of Women at the University of Illinois and later serving as an Air Force spouse, raising four girls, and performing volunteer work at their many duty stations, both at home and abroad. She was an avid fan of Illini sports teams and deeply loved her children, grandson, and great grandchildren. In addition to her duties as church secretary, she was an active member of the First Christian Church, always participating in outreach activities and comforting members during their difficult times. She was a truly unselfish and caring person and was "mom" to many friends and family.
A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Friday, October 13, 2023, at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in Hampton. The service will be available for viewing online at the funeral home's Facebook page by clicking HERE . Burial will follow at Hampton National Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday evening, October 12, from 4:00-6:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1458 Todds Lane, Hampton, VA 23666, to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's, the Huntington's Disease Foundation of America, or the Great Plains SPCA of Merriam, KS.