“Millie” was born June 26, 1934, in Louisville, a daughter of the late Alex Love Pugh and Lessie Elizabeth Mobley Pugh. Having been raised with six siblings during the Great Depression, Millie learned from an early age the merit of a family’s love and the dignity of labor. These values, instilled in her so early, would shape and sculpt Millie’s character throughout her lifetime.
For many years Millie owned and operated Fast Staffing in Pearl. Later she served for more than twenty years as an executive assistant for the Mississippi State Oil and Gas Board, a position she still held at the time of her passing.
Never one for idle time Millie enjoyed staying busy and was always on the go. In her free time she enjoyed shopping, tending to her yard, reading, and cooking for family and friends.
In addition to her parents and siblings she was preceded in death by husbands, William Fred Long, Sr., and Bennie Graves.
Survivors include son, William Fred “Buster” Long, Jr. and wife Judy; daughter, Betty Knott; grandchildren William Michael Long and wife Heather, Matthew Fred Long and wife Kesta, James William “Buddy” Knott and wife Connie, and Melissa K. Gilmore and husband Darryl; great-grandchildren, Fowler Michael Long, William Jordan Long, Kayla Grace Long, Matthew Eli Long, Jaydon Cameron Knott, Brady Camden Knott, Kyle Xavier Gilmore, and Jonathan Darryl Gilmore; and great-great-grandson, Cullen Gilmore.
Visitation will be held from 9:00am until 11:00am, with funeral services beginning at 11:00am, Friday, October 27, 2023, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Interment services will follow at 1:00pm at the Memorial Pavilion of Lakewood Memorial Park.