Scarlett (McLain) Mills, 79, a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on December 11, 2025. Born on January 17, 1946, in Millry, Alabama, Scarlett lived a life defined by creativity, adventure, and heartfelt service to others.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Daniel McLain and Margie Leigh Dearmon Whitten, and her brother, James Robert McLain.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Sidney; her three children, Tim and his wife Lisa, Loree Gieger and her husband Darrin, and Bryan and his wife Christie; her five siblings, Lee Calton and her husband John, Dorothy Ann Durham, Cyndee Baldwin and her husband John, Tommy Whitten, and John Whitten and his wife Ginger. She also leaves behind her granddaughters, Aryn Gieger Sedgwick, Sarah Mills, and Sidney Mills Smith; six great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and treasured friends.
Scarlett was a warm, nurturing presence in the lives of many. She served not only as a loving mother but as a second mom to countless others. No matter how busy life became, she made time to show up—at school parties, ball games, and field trips—always offering encouragement and unwavering support.
For 50 years, Scarlett worked as a hairdresser, a profession she cherished deeply. Her salon chair became a place of conversation, laughter, and connection. Over the decades, she formed lifelong friendships with both clients and fellow stylists, many of whom became like family.
Scarlett and Sidney shared a passion for travel, setting a goal to visit every national park they could reach. After purchasing a motorhome, Scarlett took on the role of planner with enthusiasm, spending months researching parks, routes, and adventures. These journeys were made even more meaningful by her habit of inviting loved ones along—her mother, in-laws, cousins, siblings, children, and grandchildren all had the joy of traveling the country with her.
Over nine years of exploration, Scarlett visited all of the continental United States and even ventured into Canada to experience one of its national parks. Scarlett will be remembered for her generosity, her adventurous spirit, and the deep love she shared with everyone fortunate enough to know her. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, devotion, and treasured memories that will forever live in the hearts of those she touched.
In Lieu of Flowers memorials in Scarlett’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Visitation will be held at the Bayou Sara Baptist Church, 12 Bayou Sara Avenue, Saraland, AL. on Thursday, December 18, 2025 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Funeral Service will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow at Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spanish Fort, Alabama.
