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Mildred Vernon, was born in Walnut Cove, NC on January 25, 1922.  She was the oldest daughter of Jordan and Mary Fulton and sister to Alberta, Harry, Gene and Charlie.  The family moved to Martinsville, VA where she spent most of her childhood.  Mildred was a beautiful woman and love life and was dedicated to her family.

During her first marriage she had two children, Marilyn and Joseph, grandchildren of Pearl and Jerry Baldwin.  After the end of the marriage Mildred moved to Balckstone, VA where she operated a restaurant that catered to Black military personnel.  She employed many of her friends and relatives from Martinsville.  It was there that she met and fell in love with a dashing young officer in the United States Army, Gordon Vernon.  They married and started their home in Hampton, VA along with their two children. Although a country girl at heart, Mildred became very adaptable to the military lifestyle and traveled extensively across American and Europe.  After Gordon's promotion to company commander, Mildred served as First Lady and taught the other women a lot about southern hospitality.  They had another child Lee J. and after Gordon's retirement from the military, the family moved back to Martinsville.  Their storybook marriage was beautiful and Gordon truly loved his "Millie."

Mildred worked in local industry from time to time, but mostly she was a housewife and mother.  She was a member of Mount Zion A. M. E. Church and her family meant all to her and she was devoted to her sister, mother, brothers, and their children were her children.  Still as fun-loving as ever, she enjoyed bingo with friends and the occasional trip to Atlantic City.  But mostly she enjoyed having her family over for meals and holiday celebrations.  The house was always full of family and it was a haven to any family member that needed a place to stay.

After the death of her husband, Gordon, Mildred lived between her son in Martinsville and daughter in Mitchellville, Maryland.  All of her daughter's friends referred to her as mama.  She never missed a film that her grandsons, Michael and Jordan helped direct or produce.  Even after becoming wheelchair bound, she had to be taken to their movies.  She was an excellent cook and even after becoming health challenged, she had to make her homemade rolls for her son-in-law, Raymond or country steak for Lee.  She let her daughter know that she was still the First Lady of the household and in charge.  She was proud of her family and very happy when her son Lee recently announced his engagement to Shelia and her grandson, Jason married Morgan.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Major Gordon Vernon.  Surviving are:  her daughter, Marilyn and husband, Dr. Raymond Cox, of Mitchellville, MD; two sons, Lee Vernon and Joseph Baldwin, of Martinsville; her sister, Alberta Byrd of Greensboro, NC; her brother, Charlie Fulton and wife Tiny of Martinsville; two grandsons, Michael Moore and Jason Cox, and wife Morgan, of Los Angeles, CA; sisters-in-law Magdalene Story of Johnson City, TN; Cora Vernon, of Detroit, MI; brother-in-law, Melvin Vernon and wife Lilly, of Martinsville,VA; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and multiple friends whose lives she touched.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 3:00 at Mount Zion A. M. E. Church with Rev. Reuben Boyd, officiating.  Burial will follow in Carver Memorial Gardens.

A ministry of service provided by Hines Funeral Services, Inc.