Brenda Joyce (Speer) Mills
Brenda Joyce (Speer) Mills
Brenda Joyce (Speer) Mills, 80, of Rector, Ark., passed away peacefully with her children by her side. The day was sunny and beautiful, as she was ushered into heaven to be with her Savior Jesus Christ and join her husband onAugust 20, 2023. We can only imagine her joy as she looked upon Jesus’ face.
Brenda was born in Saginaw, Mich., to Jesse Speer and Melba Alberteen (Beliew) Mack on December 15, 1942. She was born with her twin brother Donald Boyce Speer who left this world at the age of two.
She married her high school sweetheart, Melvin Mills, on September 1, 1961. They built their lives and raised their children in Rector. Her children, sons-inlove, grandchildren, and great grandchild brought her immense joy in life. Bella, her puppy, was her ray of sunshine.
She had a love for fashion, clothes, and jewelry. In her early teens, she learned to sew and make her own clothes. She was a talented seamstress that made many items over the years including matching dresses for her daughters, doll clothes by creating patterns out of newspapers, majorette uniforms, cheerleading uniforms, upholstering boat seats and even a tuxedo for a duck. She enjoyed working in the yard, planting flowers, going to garage sales to find costume jewelry and unique pieces of antique glass. Dressing up for Labor Day Parades or Halloween was an adventure for Brenda. Labor Day Roller Derby Lady, Halloween Scarecrow or Scary Old Man.
She shared the love of softball and baseball with her family. She helped start one of the first Rector women’s softball teams in the early 1970s. In her twenties, she could outrun teenagers and throw a ball from left field to first base. She will be cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals from heaven along with her friend James Fielder. We will miss her ‘witty’ banter with her son-in-law Scott and watching John Wayne movies with sonin- law Jim.
Brenda was a member of the First Baptist Church and enjoyed playing dominoes with her special group of friends including Betty Lewis, Glenna Bookout, and Carolyn Seay. We are certain she will be up for dominoes as she sees Johnny Williams, Dovie Smith and Reuben Seay in heaven.
Brenda was preceded in death by her father Jesse Speer, mother Melba Alberteen Mack, brother Donald Boyce Speer, and husband Melvin Mills.
She is survived by her puppy, Bella and her three children: Holly Phillips and husband Scott Phillips, Angela Mills-Pickard, and her husband Jim Pickard, and Richard Mills and his wife Kary Mills. Her grandchildren: Nathan Phillips, Natalie Phillips, Chaye Dietrich (James), Cierra Pickard and great grandson Kingston Pickard. Her brothers and their families: Ronnie Speer, and Michael Speer (Diane) and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, August 24, 2023, at Rector First Baptist Church with Irby-Mitchell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 25, at the church with the Rev. Ardell Polk officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Heights Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Rector First Baptist Church, Rector Food Bank, or Sjogren’s Foundation.
