Mildred Childress Reynolds

Mrs. Mildred Childress Reynolds, known as "Mimi” to her family, Campbell County businesswoman, banker and philanthropist, died January 10, 2016 at her home in LaFollette, TN. She was 102. Mildred was born April 20, 1913 oldest sister of her beloved Mable Louise Rouse, Herbert Arthur Childress and John Lewis Childress. Mildred had a passion for basketball as part of her youth she played on the LaFollette High School winning Girls Basketball Team and graduated from LaFollette High School and Perry Business College.

Summer of 1932, at age 19, she joined Peoples National Bank of LaFollette, making a wage of $25 per month. A devoted employee, she was named assistant cashier in 1935 and cashier in 1954. Mildred married her sweetheart James Elliott Reynolds May of 1938, lasting 75 years until Jim's death March, 2014. Mrs. Reynolds became vice president and cashier in January 1961 and Executive Vice President and cashier in December 1963. She remained a board member until 2006 after 74 years of bank service.

During her lifetime, Mildred was named LaFollette "Woman of the Year" by the Chamber of Commerce. She served as Director of East II District of State Convention, Member and chairman of the East Tennessee Group, National Association of Bank Women, was named "Woman of Achievement" by her club. She was active in civic affairs, having served as a member on the first Board of Directors of the LaFollette Community Hospital and four years on the Licensed Practical Nursing Board of the hospital. She was a member of the Board of the Child Day Care Center and a devoted member of First Baptist Church of LaFollette, serving as a Sunday school teacher and leader for many years. She served for six years as Treasurer of the City and fifteen years as Treasurer of the American Red Cross. She was Chairman of the sale of U.S. Savings Bonds in Campbell County. Mildred's passion in life was serving God first, loving and caring for her family and serving others through her service at the bank and throughout her community.

She was a Godly woman to be honored and praised.

Mrs. Reynolds was preceded in death by her parents, Myrtle and Herbert Childress; husband, James E. Reynolds; sister, Mable and husband Lawrence Rouse; brothers, John L. Childress and Herbert A. Childress and wife Lucille; and nephews, Michael Childress and Charles Gran.

Surviving family members include daughter, Janice R. Tibbals and husband Howard; grandchildren, Barry Elkins and wife Stacey, Betsy Wyrick, Barsha Landreth and husband Michael, David Tibbals and wife Karen, Jeff Tibbals, Tim Tibbals and wife Dawn, Tracey Stansberry and husband Don, Glenda Gray and husband Chris; great grandchildren; Jake Elkins, Reid Elkins, Blake Wyrick, Emily Wyrick, Charlie Wyrick, Andrew Saliba, Jade Wilson and husband Andrew, Austin Reed, Maury Tibbals, Frank Stansberry, Lauren Tibbals, Lisa Stansberry, Abby Tibbals, Amanda Tibbals, Luke Tibbals, Jackson Gray; Brother-in-law, John T. (Jack) Reynolds and Wife, Mary Lou, great-great grandchildren Liam and Lexi Wilson; Nieces and Nephews Barsha Lynn Ammons, James M. Rouse, Johnny Childress, Kelly Childress, Martha Hill, Lansden Hill, David Reynolds, Bill Gran, Susan Hess, Johnnie Lou Hickman, Betty Kay Reynolds, David Sharp and many loved grandnieces and grandnephews.

In Mildred and Jim's later years, they were lovingly cared for by Ruby Rucki, Francis Walker, Debbie Harness and Sheri Hunley.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 255 W. Central Avenue, LaFollette, TN 37766. Memorial service 1 p.m. with Pastor Bob Brown officiating.  Graveside services to follow immediately at Woodlawn Cemetery. Online condolences for Mrs. Reynolds may be made at www.waltersfuneralhome.net.  Walters Funeral Home of LaFollette is honored to be serving the family of Mrs. Mildred Childress Reynolds.