Necebie Mary Mikill Langford

Our Mom, Necebie Mary Mikill Langford, was called from our lives and into heaven on Saturday, May 16. A loving mother to Joseph Michael Langford (wife, Pam); Mary Langford Armstrong (husband, James); and Pat and Bill Langford, and grandchildren, Jennifer and Joe (wife, Colette), Mom made every day she spent with us the best day of our lives. In recent years, when anyone asked Mom how old she was, she would reply, "I was born in 1917," then wait as the curious questioners struggled to come up with the answer. Mom was born on Oct. 14, of that year, in Red Springs, N.C. At the age of 11, she moved with her parents, Rose and Dahar Mikill, and brothers, Sam and Fred, to West Palm Beach, and graduated from St. Ann High School in 1936. In 1944, Mom married our Dad, Joseph Herbert Langford and soon switched from valuable construction office secretary to even-more valuable housewife and mother. Mom later returned to work as President of Langford Industries for five years, all the while caring for her growing kids. Three of the four siblings were still living at home (Mike was working at Langford Industries) when Dad died in 1971. Mom loved and cared for all of us; we've had so many good times together. Whether it be work or play, our interests became her interests, if they weren't already. That included growing roses with Bill, clothes shopping with Mary and rooting for the Gators with all of us. Mom always was a sports fan; she watched many games with us at the stadium and on TV. On Gator TV-watching days, she would always send Bill and Pat off to the game with special instructions: "Don't let our team lose." Anyone who got to spend time around Mom was a winner. That includes her cousin, Helen, who Mom was happy to see on a regular basis. Mom always welcomed friends and relatives to our home. If it was meal time, she'd provide a home-cooked meal; if later at night, a warm bed or two. On Wednesday evening, visitors can pay their respects to Mom by stopping by Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation & Event Center at Hillcrest, 6411 Parker Ave., between 5 and 7 p.m. (Prayer service is at 7). A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday at 10 a.m., at Mary Immaculate Church, 390 S. Sequoia Dr., in West Palm Beach. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Flowers are nice, Mom loves them; but a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or a favorite charity also would be appreciated. We'll miss Mom tremendously. Our loss is Heaven's gain. We were very fortunate to have her with us for 97-plus years. Maybe we will meet again sometime down the road. If we live our lives like Mom has, our chances will be much better. She's up above praying for us now.