Audrey Lee Simpson was born March 27, 1923, to Alfred Gerald Simpson and Bethany Bateman Simpson. As a young child, she attended Sunday School at the New Bern Temple Baptist Church in the morning and The Salvation Army in the afternoon. When the Army moved their Sunday School to the morning, her mother told Audrey that she would have to choose between the two and be faithful to that one. Thank God, she chose The Salvation Army! It was at The Salvation Army that she was converted and later heard God’s call to Salvation Army officership.
She graduated in 1940 from New Bern High School and that fall entered The Salvation Army Training College. She was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the spring of 1941 and appointed to assist in Goldsboro, NC. On April 14, 1942, Audrey married Captain Graham Mills. Together, Captains Graham and Audrey Mills served as Commanding Officers in Henderson, NC; Gaffney, SC; Fayetteville, Gastonia, Hickory, Rocky Mount, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, NC. Their last appointment, as active officers, was Utica, NY.
In 1981, they retired to New Bern, NC. Audrey and Graham were married almost 65 years when he was Promoted to Glory on February 4, 2007. In her retirement, Audrey was a Sunday School teacher, Sunbeam Leader, a songster member, a bandsman, and occasionally, a preacher!
Through all her life, she was a faithful soldier, powerful prayer warrior, and always prayed and worked that people would know Jesus and grow in their walk with Him. Even many years after retiring, she still had a hunger to learn more about God’s word and to draw closer to her Saviour.
Audrey is survived by her three children, Robert Mills (Sue), Major Virginia Watts (Richard), and Major Linda Jones (Doug); ten wonderful grandchildren; and twenty-two outstanding great-grandchildren.
Cards of encouragement and support may be sent to:
The Family of Major Audrey Mills
1417 Red Robin Lane
New Bern, NC 28562
The family will receive visitors from 9:00-10:00 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Cotten Funeral Home. A celebration of Audrey's life will begin at 10:00 am. Following the service, Audrey will be laid to rest at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Audrey's honor to The Salvation Army Camp Walter Johnson. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 241808, Charlotte, NC 28224-1808.
Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Audrey Simpson Mills.
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