Mildred Huntley Haire McLaurin

Mildred Huntley Haire McLaurin, 92, of Upatoi, passed on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 at Columbus Hospice, after a brief battle with oral cancer. At the time of her death she was attended by her family and close friends.

The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, from 5 pm till 6:30 pm with Memorial Services immediately following.

Mildred was born October 17, 1919, in Wadesboro, North Carolina, to Calvin and Lilly Haire. In 1935 she moved to Los Angeles to live with her aunt, poet and author Irene Wilde, and graduated from Maywood High School in 1937. After attending Los Angeles City College, she worked in the Los Angeles Public Library.

On November 15, 1940 she married John Wilson McLaurin, also of Wadesboro, at the Wee Kirk of the Heather chapel in Los Angeles and remained a devoted wife, mother, gardener, cook, student of education, and teacher about plants, birds, and wildlife for the next 72 years. Her decades-long battle with squirrels, chipmunks, jaybirds, armadillos, and moles was always underscored by the abiding love, awe, and reverence she felt for all of God’s creatures. Her baking skills were legendary-- with people vying to be gifted with a few loaves of her sourdough French bread, or her homemade doughnuts, eclairs or Danish pastry.

Mildred’s unforgettable blue eyes and radiant smile will never be forgotten by anyone who was ever blessed to be in her presence. She was a loving, special person who always left you feeling better after you had spent any amount of time with her.

She is survived by her husband, John W. McLaurin, LTC, US Army retired, her children, John W. McLaurin, Jr. (Janet) of Newport News, Virginia, Laurie M. Guard (Charlie) of Kula, Hawaii, Bonnie I. McLaurin of Gainesville, Florida, her sister, Margaret Caudle of Charlotte, North Carolina, her brother Risdon Haire of Chattanooga, TN, two granddaughters, four great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the South.

Flowers are accepted or contributions can be made to PAWS, PO Box 8964, Columbus, GA 31908.