Marguerite Robertson Mills, more affectionately known to many as “Margie,” died Wednesday, April 21, in Carney’s Point, New Jersey, where she resided with her son and daughter-in-law. She was 102 years old. Born the last of seven children (all girls) to David Swanson Robertson and Lenora Robertson (nee Brown) in Charleston, South Carolina, Marguerite attended Charleston’s public schools and graduated from Avery Normal Institute. She immediately began her teaching career, which spanned some 42 years and several states (South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey).
She married Rev. Thomas Othniel Mills on Oct. 20, 1935, a union which produced five sons. As a busy mother, teacher and minister’s wife, Marguerite delayed her college education for several years, receiving her BA degree from Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina, in 1953, the same year her eldest son graduated from high school. Education, family and the church were cornerstones of her life, foundations which she and her husband shared in raising their five children.
Marguerite was preceded in death by her third son, Rev. Judson Chappelle Mills, and her beloved husband of 58 years, Rev. Thomas Othniel Mills Sr. She is survived by her sons: Thomas Othniel Mills Jr., M.D.; Bunyan Alexander Mills II, BA; Clarence Norris Mills, DPM; Don Christian Mills JD.; daughters-in-law: Sherelle Thompson Mills, Celeste Robertson Mills and Catherine Lockhart Mills; and grandchildren: Todd O’Sean Mills, Bunyan Alexander Mills III (spouse – Dawn), Antony Christian Mills, Tori-Lyn Mills Tonkins (spouse – Phil) and Corinne Marguerite Lockhart Mills. She is also survived by great- grandchildren: Nigal Alexander Mills and Jalen Andre Mills; nieces: Geneva Wilkins and Madeline Wilkins Evans; grand nieces: Madilyn Evans and Le’Andra Evans; grand nephew, Leroy Evans; and many, many special friends too numerous to mention, but including the congregations of Shiloh Baptist Church, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Mills Memorial Baptist Temple, Salisbury, Maryland; and New Union Baptist Church, Baltimore, Maryland.
Her funeral service was on Wednesday, April 28, at Mills Memorial Baptist Temple in Salisbury, Maryland.