Mildred Lester Wagoner

September 4, 1927 - January 30, 2018

Mildred “Millie” Wagoner, aged 90, of Daytona Beach, Florida passed away in her home on January 30, 2018. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Paul Celester Wagoner, Sr., who died in Reidsville, North Carolina on June 20, 2011. They made their home on Esperanza Avenue. Millie and Paul have two surviving children, Paul C. Wagoner, Jr.”Chip” (6/10/1946) and wife, Ruth Anna Webster Wagoner of Daytona Beach, Florida; and their daughter, of Reidsville, NC, is Donna Jane Wagoner Handy (9/15/1949) and husband Gordon Keith Handy, of Reidsville, NC.

Kacy Lin Wagoner, eldest granddaughter, and her son, Brian Keith Webster Wagoner, reside in Daytona Beach. West Palm Beach, is home to Mildred’s youngest granddaughter Kelly Ilene Wagoner Winzens and husband Michael Sean Winzens. Her two step-great granddaughters are Chelsea Lynn and Taylor Ann Winzens, with one great-great grandson, Cohen Edward Winzens.

Early Years

Mildred was born in Reidsville, North Carolina. She was the youngest of three daughters of Thomas Erastus Lester (6/27/1898-2/26/1975) and Annie Jane Jones Lester (10/9/1904-12/7/1972). With sisters, Margaret Elizabeth and Beulah Catherine, they spent happy days as girls with maternal and paternal grandparents in the Midway/ Bethany Community of Rockingham County, NC. Phoebia Ann E. Perdue (5/17/1872-8/14/1943) and Giles W. Jones (6/6/1861- 5/5/1937) were maternal grandparents. They are interred in the Midway United Methodist Church Cemetery. Paternal grandparents were Elizabeth Jane Cummings Lester and husband, George Thomas Lester, interred in the Bethany UM Church Cemetery.

Mildred graduated from Reidsville High School where she was both cheerleader and majorette. Married in West Market Street Methodist Church, Greensboro, NC on September 21,1945, she and Paul moved to California where Paul served in the US Navy during WWII. They returned to Reidsville and Guilford County, North Carolina where she worked as an executive secretary at P. Lorillard Tobacco Co. Paul was manager of Southern States Farm Supply Store. In 1959 they relocated to Daytona Beach, Florida, living out their lives there. Millie worked in both the public and private schools, with her husband in the insurance industry and also in the commercial banking business.

Outside of the workforce they lived full and happy lives. They were active members of Community Methodist Church. Their favorite hobby was traveling, seeing visiting all 50 states and several countries. Favorite camping and traveling companions and lifelong friends were Bob “Steve” and Vivian Griffin Stevens. Their children, Robert II and Mark, were loved as family. For many years Millie was keenly fond of her longtime friend, Gigi Borland, currently of Burnsville, NC. Special friends to Mildred were Jan Wildermuth, of Owasso, Michigan, David and Linda W. Staub, Port Orange, Fl., Beverly P. Jones, Reidsville, Karen and Jessie Maxey and Walter and Teresa Monroe, all of Palm Coast, Florida. Maggie and Larry Dodd of Bunnell, FL. also enjoyed a long friendship with Millie. Many of her children’s friends considered her to be their “other” mother.

Family Extended

Through her lifetime Mildred cherished her family. Both of her two sisters lived in the Lawsonville Community of Rockingham County, worked at Annie Penn Memorial Hospital, farmed on their family tobacco farms and raised two sons. Her sister Margaret married Reuben E. McCollum and mothered Robert Edward (wife, Martha Ann Vernon McCollum) and Roy L. “Mac” (wife, Mary Bailey McCollum). Great nieces are Malinda Ann Turpin (husband, Tracey), and Manda Rae Jackson (husband, Brackett). Great nephew is Richard Craig McCollum (wife, Jennifer Bowes McCollum). Great-great nieces and nephews are Robert Samuel and Levi Bailey (wife, Emily), Wade Lester Turpin (daughter, Hope), Megan, Ryan, and Hunter McCollum.

Sister Beulah married Hubert Conway Rierson, having two sons; Hubert Conway, Jr.“Huey” (wife, Lynne Wilson) and Noel Kent Rierson. Great niece is Jeanna Nicole Rierson (sons, Wyatt Rierson and Peyton Orr).

Paul’s surviving sisters are Shirley Wagoner Huffines (husband Donald, deceased, companion is Roger Baldwin) and Betty Wagoner Busick (Glen, deceased) both living in Guilford Co., NC. Deceased sister is Lillian W. Jones (Ernest Horace) formerly of Reidsville. Deceased brothers and wives are Charles Wagoner and wife, Sarah formerly of Woburn, Massachusetts, James Adolphus “Doc” Wagoner and wife, Dorothy Thompson and Leon Franklin and wife, Mary Frances Wright Wagoner, all of Guilford County, NC. Mildred cherished her many nieces and nephews, along with their children.

Mildred was surrounded by family as she departed this life. The family is grateful for the exceptional care given by Halifax Hospice, Dr. Joanne Saxour, and Dr. Scott Luking of Reidsville. Special gratitude is expressed to all those caring friends and family for their unwavering years of interest and kindnesses shown to our family during these challenging days and the preceding years.

Services will be held in July at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery, Greensboro, NC. Memorials can be made in Mildred’s honor to her ancestral church, the Mizpah Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o of Mrs. Melanie Ball, 645 NC 150, Reidsville, NC.