Mildred S. Holbrook

Mildred S. Holbrook, 77, of Punta Gorda, FL died March 27, 2009. Born January 7, 1932 in Marytown, WV to James and Alma Steele, she spent her formative years in Bartley, WV. Mildred attended Asbury College in Kentucky and married her childhood friend, James M. Holbrook, Jr in 1955. She returned to college and graduated from FLA Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL with a BS Degree. After raising four children, Mildred received a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught Elementary School for 20 years in Miami-Dade County at Redland, Chapman & Oliver Hoover Elementary Schools. In 1994, she retired and moved to Punta Gorda, but continued to counsel and mentor children. She was named "Mentor of the Year" in 2002 by Neil Armstrong Elementary School. Mildred was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. She influenced a great number of people throughout her lifetime by sharing God's love and by living a Christian life. She was a loving, caring, selfless person and was loved by all who knew her. Several of her former students had been in contact with her in their adult years.

She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, James Holbrook, Jr. of Punta Gorda, FL; children, James Lety Holbrook, III of Miami, FL; George Gloria Holbrook of Ft Lauderdale, FL; Charlie Holly Holbrook of Punta Gorda, FL and Christina Craig Evans of Punta Gorda, FL; grandchildren, Katie, Michael, Emma, Samuel, Zachary and Emily; a brother, James Steele, M.D of Nitro, WV; sisters, Virginia Meredith of Orlando, FL and Sybil Largent of Cape Canaveral, FL; 12 nieces and 10 nephews.

The Visitation will be from 11:00 am till 1:00 pm, Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at the Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home, 635 E Marion Ave, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. The Funeral Service will be 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church of Punta Gorda, 507 Gill Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 with the Rev John Bryant officiating. Burial to follow at the Ft Ogden Cemetery. Donations in memory of Mildred may be made to the church.