Mildred Gavin

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Mrs. Mildred B. Gavin affectionately known as Mommy, Nana, Auntie, Millie and Mama G departed this life and slipped into the arms of our savior on Sunday March 17, 2024, at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Chesapeake, VA.

She was born Friday, July 3, 1931, to the late Arthur and Margaret Johnson Sr. in Savannah, GA. Mildred, the middle child of 3, spent her early childhood in Savannah, GA.  However, at the age of 7, her family relocated to Harlem, NY.

She completed her lower and intermediate education in the New York City Public School system. Upon high school graduation, she matriculated to nursing school and began her career at Goldwater Memorial Hospital. There, she met the love of her life, and married Lorenzo Gavin. She quickly ended her nursing career of 14 years to become a full-time wife and mother. Together they raised 3 beautiful girls. Millie studied dress making in high school and became an accomplished seamstress.  Her passion was sewing clothes for her girls and making choir robes for local churches. After the untimely death of her husband in 1968, she devoted her life to church. Mildred accepted Christ as a young woman and was a longtime, active member of Second Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem, NY serving under the late Rev. John P. Ladson. She served faithfully and gave her time, talents and treasures as the church clerk and a member of choir No. 2.

She relocated to Virginia in 1985 with her youngest daughter who attended Norfolk State University. As years progressed, the other two daughters relocated to Virginia to be close to their mother. While in Virginia, she joined Mt. Sinai Baptist Church under the late Rev. Dr. Larry L. Cherry. In 2000 she joined Pleasant Grove Baptist Church under the Late Bishop William Darryl Scott, Sr. There she remained until her passing which is now Tabernacle Worship Center under Pastor Joyce Rose Scott.

She was the epitome of a caregiver, raising other children in the family. Mommy was a beacon of love and kindness with her family and community.  Her life was a symphony of compassion, and her legacy continues to resonate as her nurturing spirit and dedication to helping others will be remembered and cherished.

Mommy was our senior diva and loved expressing herself through fashion. She was known for being sassy, dressing in her classy outfits paired with her beautiful church hats.

She is preceded in death by her Parents, her husband, her brothers Arthur Johnson, Jr and Fred Johnson.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion in her children, Janice St. Louis, Laureen Ellis- Green (Rodney), De’Etta Gavin-Scott (Joseph). She also leaves her grandchildren Dr. Janelle St. Louis and Arrington Gavin (She’Ayre) , Ashley and Alexis Green, Jo’el Bryant ( Ashley) along with a host of loving and supportive nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mildred Gavin, please visit our floral store.