Bess Samuel Mills

Just six weeks shy of her 100th birthday, Bess Samuel Mills died Sunday morning, February 19, 2017. She was born on Fairhaven Plantation near Zachary, LA, on April 6, 1917, the middle child of Elizabeth Mills Samuel and Thomas Norris Samuel.

She attended high school in Baker, LA, and college at LSU where she was a member of

Chi Omega sorority. She met her husband of 60 years, Cooper Newton Mills of Griffin, GA, while he was employed by Ethyl Corporation in Baton Rouge. On the very night they met, Bess told her mother that Cooper was the man she hoped to marry. Once Cooper completed Naval OCS at Notre Dame, they married at Fairhaven in 1942. They spent the first years of marriage in New York City and Rockland, Maine. Bess had many fond memories of their time together during this period of their lives.

When the war was over, Bess and Cooper lived on Look Out Mountain, TN, and moved to Griffin in 1947 when Cooper was called home to join the family business, Newton Coal and Lumber Company. They raised 2 children in a loving home that Cooper built for her. She was still living in her house at the time of her death. Bess was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of Griffin, the Utility Club, and a charter member of the Dogwood Garden Club. She loved all of God’s creation and never passed by a flower she didn’t stop to admire or a kitten she didn’t stop to stroke. She was a passionate fan of college football and basketball, staying up many nights past midnight, even a few days before her death, to watch her favorite teams. She had a special loyalty to all things Georgia Tech, the alma mater of her husband and son.

Always with a twinkle in her eye and a big smile, “Miss Bess” touched many lives and is remembered for her grace and humility. She loved many, was loved by many, and will be missed by many.

Predeceased by her parents, husband, and sister and brother,

Emily Samuel Jones and Thomas Norris Samuel Jr, Bess is survived by her son,

Cooper Newton Mills, Jr. (Cindy), her daughter, Elizabeth Mills Brown (Jack), and grandson Henry Bethune Tompkins III, all of Atlanta:

Granddaughters, Wendy Brown Lanz (Tobias) of Columbia, SC,

Courtney Tompkins Beaver (Howell) of Austin, TX;

And great grandchildren, Josef, Nicholas, and Mia Lanz, and Paul Beaver, Jr.

The family would like to thank her devoted caregivers for their many years of service: Suzie Brown, Marian Howard, Doris Jester, Shirley Smith, and Charles Otis Clayton.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Griffin on Friday, February 24th at 11 am with visitation following at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Griffin, 1349 Macon Rd, Griffin, GA 30224.

To pay condolences online to the family, please do so at www.haistenmccullough.com.

Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Rd. is in charge of arrangements.