Carmen S. Million

Carmen S. Million, 80, of Ocean Springs, MS died at her Kare Med Assisted Living home on Sunday, January 1, 2012. A native of New Orleans, she graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans with a degree in English and later pursued an advertising career to support her two sons. Dating back to the 1960’s, her advertising agency covered the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast, where she enjoyed marketing the local Pepsi distributor, Allen Beverages, as well as Wendy’s restaurants during her final years with her sons’ assistance. Her pioneer career with Pepsi spanned five decades, being the first to ever create prizes under bottle caps, and the first to develop bottle cap collection promotions which included free camps for kids to Pepsi’s Steve Stonebreaker Football Camp and Dr Pepper’s Miss Teenage America Summer Camp. Active in public service, Carmen was proud of her work on political campaigns and referendums, primarily in Jefferson Parish with Lawrence Chehardy and Joe Yenni. Also active with non-profits, her public relations clients included Children's Hospital in New Orleans and the St. Paul's School in Covington, LA. A pillar in the advertising community, she was the first female President of the New Orleans Ad Club and the first female American Advertising Federation Lt. Gov. representing the Southeast. An expert in media buying, she won numerous national Effie Awards for her work with Pepsi, in addition to Addie awards for her creative. The pinnacle was winning the New Orleans Ad Club Silver Medal for distinguished career. In her later years, Carmen taught Marketing at Tulane University’s Biloxi Campus, honored as Professor of Year by the students. Spending summers in her youth on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, her interests for sailing, swimming and crabbing were later shared with her sons and grandchildren, often telling stories like meeting the Biloxi Light House attendant in the evenings to climb the winding stairs to illuminate the lighthouse. A member of the Southern Yacht Club, she enjoyed taking her grandchildren sailing on the Biloxi Schooners year round, also showing them how to set crab nets off the Biloxi peer. Carmen was diagnosed with Lewey Body Dementia in her final years. The family is very grateful to all those who cared for her so well, including the Kare Med Assisted Living staff in Ocean Springs. Carmen is preceded in death by her mother, Olga Nicaud Seiferth; father, Bayne Andre Seiferth; and former husband, Georges Andre Million. She is survived by her sisters, Olga Seiferth Rome of New Orleans, LA and Sylvia Seiferth Brannen of Statesboro, GA; son, Bayne Andre Million and wife, Tricia Smyke Million of Atlanta, GA; son, Troy Paul Million and wife, Odile Holahan Million of Ocean Springs, MS; grandchildren, Brooke of Mobile, AL, Katherine Welch (Nicholas) of Atlanta, GA, Eric and Amelie of Ocean Springs, MS. In lieu of flowers at the family’s request, donations can be made to the St. Alphonsus School Endowment Fund, 504 Jackson Ave., Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs, MS. Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until mass time. Carmen’s nephew, Father Brett Brannen, will bless the Niche at Southern Memorial Park at 3:00 pm. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Ocean Springs, MS is in charge of arrangements.