McCOMB — Della Mae Howard McMillin, age 91 of Vicksburg, peacefully passed on to her Lord at her Aston Court Retirement Home residence in McComb on May 26, 2010.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fisher Funeral Home, 1830 Cherry St. in Vicksburg, with her brother-in-law, Dr. Sam Laine of Collierville, Tenn., officiating. Burial will be at Green Acres Memorial Park. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Della was preceded in death by her husbands, Ira M. Richardson Sr. of Vernon, Texas, and George L. McMillin Sr. of Vicksburg. Also preceding were three sisters, Janie Harvey of Greenwood, Ruby Wade of Tchula and Katie Gober of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; four brothers, William Howard and Andrew “Sonny” Howard of Greenwood and Henry Halbert Howard and Thomas “Snooks” Howard of Cruger; and three grandsons, Lee and Jacob McMillin, both of Vicksburg, and Mark Richardson of McComb.

Survivors include three sons, Ira M. Richardson Jr. of McComb, George L. McMillin Jr. of Vicksburg and Andrew N. McMillin of Natchez, a daughter, Nancy McMillin Ratliff of Conyers, Ga.; three sisters, Martha Fratesi and Magdalene “Maggie” Stewart, both of Greenwood, and Rebecca “Becky” Laine of Collierville; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Kenny McMillin, Barry Anderson, Jimmy Stanford, Kenny Howard, Benny McMillin and Jimbo Shiers. Honorary pallbearers will be Glen Wilson and Billy Galey.

Della was born Aug. 18, 1918, in Brazil, Tallahatchie County, Miss., to Abraham Lincoln Howard and Della Frances (Stewart) Howard and lived her early life in the Mississippi Delta. After marriage to her husband, George, who was in the U.S. Army at that time, and transferring with him around the country from coast to coast, they settled in his hometown of Vicksburg where she continued to reside until after his death. In her later years, she came to live with her eldest son, Ira, in McComb and later moved to Aston Court Retirement Home where she resided until her death. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to Aston Court owners Stacey and Jonah Locke, Kelly, Jenny, Freddie, Linda and all other Aston Court employees for their dedication, kindness and warm special care afforded Della over the lengthy time she was their resident. During her years in McComb, she also had a special friend in Margaret Dunn. 

Della McMillin was a caring, kind and special person who loved her God to whom she dedicated her life. In early life she was a member of the Baptist faith and later in life converted to the Church of God of Prophecy. She served her husband, George, as bookkeeper in their business, Vicksburg Motor Exchange, until after his retirement. Then, after his death in 1971, she graduated nursing school and became certified as LPN on Jan. 7, 1974, by Mississippi Board of Nursing. She then used her gifts to the fullest in service to others throughout the remainder of her active life. In doing so, she provided special care for the William Moore family members of Cary, who have since remembered her with caring cards of special thanks they have sent throughout her waning years of life. For her children, grandchildren, many other descendants and all who knew her, she was a model of strength, courage and compassion. A beautiful person, inside and out, she will always be remembered and sorely missed by those who loved her so dearly.