Mildred Thrasher

Athens - Mildred Thrasher, 89, died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at Arbor Terrace. Born in Yazoo City, Miss., she was the daughter of the late John Benjamin and Jeanette Rushe Johnson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her second husband of 43 years, Thomas Isaac Thrasher of Atlanta, whose service in the Pacific Theater of World War II as a U.S. Marine Corps captain was followed by a 40 year career at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation; and her first husband, William Coleman of Yazoo City, Miss., a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot who was shot down over France's Normandy Peninsula during World War II. Born on April 20, Millie was raised on a farm along with her three sisters and was known for her charming and gentle demeanor. She was voted Prettiest Girl of her 1938 high school graduating class, and was crowned winner of The Miss Yazoo City Beauty Pageant. Residing in Decatur from 1948 until 2006, Millie took joy in being an affectionate mother and wife and took pride in her 20 year career as secretary for Anchor Hocking Corporation and the DeKalb County Branch of the Georgia Republican Party. Of the Catholic faith, soft-spoken Millie was beloved for her sweet, sensitive, and graceful nature. Survivors include her children, Jeanne Ruth (James) Gammon, of St. Joe, Fla., Thomas Isaac Thrasher, of Ellijay, Judy D. (John) O'Donnell, of Athens; her sister Helen Johnson (Harris) Eldridge, of Scobey, Miss.; grandchildren Shane Michael Gammon, Derek Tate Gammon, Jennifer Anne Dudley, Hannah Kate Thrasher, Ava Camille Thrasher; two great grandchildren, four step-great grandchildren, and one step-great great grandchild. A memorial service will be held at Arbor Terrace, 170 Marilyn Farmer Way, Athens, GA 30606, at 2 p.m. Monday, May 23. Lord & Stephens, East, Athens, is in charge of arrangements.