Charlotte Elaine Mills

Charlotte Elaine Dooley Mills, age 70, was born in Great Lakes, IL on September 13, 1953 and passed away on January 9, 2024 at Baptist Hospital - East. She was the baby of the family, the youngest of 5 children born to William "Bill" and Elsie Perry Dooley.

She graduated in the top 10% of her 1971 class at East High School and she attended Memphis State University. Charlotte excelled in sewing and she worked in alterations for 50 years, often commenting it was a lost art. She truly loved her craft until the day she left us and considered it her way of helping people in a way not many could.

Charlotte made her profession of faith at a young age at Malcolm Avenue Baptist Church which her grandfather and his brothers helped establish. Charlotte enjoyed traveling and often took fun trips with her husband and son and later with her sisters. Her late Aunt Dorothy loved for Charlotte to take trips with her to Reno and Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas and Loughlin. She also loved trips to New Orleans or really, just anywhere fun and excitement could be found.

Charlotte had a sharp mind and did everything possible to keep it that way. She worked the crossword puzzle every day in the newspaper, loved word games and tv game shows. She loved country music, Conway Twitty and Alan Jackson being two of her personal favorites. She was also a big fan of basketball and specifically the Boston Celtics. What started as just an opportunity to bond with her son turned into a true passion where she wouldn’t miss watching a televised game.

She loved Hallmark Christmas movies and Christmas was by far her favorite holiday, a time of giving where she could show her love to those around her. She would use her sister’s Facebook account to keep up with friends and family, never more than a phone call away but always wanting to know when someone was in need.

Charlotte was definitely family oriented. She loved unconditionally and was devoted to her family, especially to her son, Kelly and she was fiercely protective of her loved ones. To the point that if someone she loved loved you, she loved you just as much. She practically considered Kelly’s closest friends children of her own and many considered her a second mother.

She was a lifelong lover of animals and her home was never without a pet. Just another opportunity to give freely to a creature in need, but the love she received in exchange was worth far more than she gave. Whether it was a stray off the street or the last puppy from a litter, Charlotte would always take one in if there was room.

Charlotte was a truly special person. She had an infectious laugh and she had the biggest heart of anyone and she always thought of others first and would put them before herself. She would help anyone she could, and often did it quietly because she didn't want praise or recognition. She always tried to do the right thing because that's how she was raised.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert William "Bobby" Mills and a brother, Vernon Dooley. To cherish her memory she leaves behind her son, William Kelly Mills, 2 sisters, Shirley Dooley and Beverly Cobb all of Memphis, and a brother, William "Bill" (Karen) Dooley of Cordova. She also leaves 6 nieces and a nephew and many great nieces and nephews.

Charlotte was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

A rotunda service for Charlotte will be held Wednesday, January 24, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Rd, Memphis, TN 38125.