Mildred Garretty Heard, age 88, passed away October 11, 2018, with her loving family by her side. She was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi. She was the eighth child born to the late George Thomas Garretty and Mamie Lee Stringer Garretty Thompson. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dewey A. Heard, siblings, George T. Garretty, Nell Wood, June Larsen, Frances Ivy, Ellen Johns, Dorothy Cruell, and Bruce Garretty. She is survived by her two loving children, Joan Albrecht (Frank), and Dennis A. Heard (Terri), her granddaughter, Garretty Lee Albrecht, nieces and nephews, Donna Katherine Kaiser, Larry Larsen, Martha Maretto, Leslie Wood, John Cruell, Eric Garretty, and Frances Lynn Dye along with numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
Mildred graduated from McComb High School in Mississippi, and attended The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg; receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in education, and went on to acquire her Master’s Degree from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas.
After receiving her Master’s Degree, Mildred moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1956. She taught physical education at McNeese College, LaGrange Junior High School and LaGrange Senior High School. At LaGrange Senior High School she served as girl’s gymnastics coach, girl’s archery coach, girl’s tennis coach, and girl’s cheerleader sponsor. In 1966 she moved to Metairie, Louisiana where Mildred continued her career in the Jefferson Parish Public School System, which included teaching at John Quincy Adams Junior High School and Grace King Senior High School. In 1970 she became an Assistant Principal at LW Higgins Senior High School before going on to become a Principal at Westwego Elementary, Alice Birney Elementary, and JD Meisler Middle School, where she retired in 1985.
After her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter, traveling, painting, and her passion of playing golf. She was proud of shooting a hole-in-one while playing at City Park Golf Course. After moving to La Place, Louisiana, she became a member of Riverlands Golf and Country Club.
Mildred had memberships in three different churches; Boulevard Baptist Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where she served as Children’s Director, Memorial Baptist Church in Metairie, Louisiana and First Baptist Church in La Place, Louisiana.
Visitation with the family will be held at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, Louisiana on October 20, 2018 beginning from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. A Memorial Service officiated by Dr. Paul Naylor of First Baptist Church, La Place, Louisiana, will begin at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Precision Cancer Therapy Program at the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. Checks should be made out to Ochsner Clinic Foundation and mailed to, Ochsner Department of Philanthropy, 1514 Jefferson Hwy., BH 607, New Orleans, Louisiana 70121, please be sure to include Mildred’s name with your donation.
A private inurnment will take place at a later date at Hollywood Cemetery, McComb, Mississippi.
Messages of condolences to the family may be left at www.leitzeagenfuneralhome.com.
