Donabel Pitts McMillan

Donabel Pitts McMillan died at home in Gulfport on January 10, 2008. Born in Blue Springs, AL, on April 8, 1926, she was the daughter of Lawrence Allen and Alma Baell Pitts. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Virgil Oliver McMillan, Jr. and her son, Thomas Allen McMillan. Survivors include Donna McMillan of Tokyo, Japan, Joanie Henckell of Gulfport, MS, Mary and Ned Browning of Starkville, MS, Peter Andrew and Bengue McMillan of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and grandchildren Daniel and Andrea Browning, Janet and Foster Phillips, Benjamin Henckell, Stephen and Erin Browning, and Christina Henckell. She is also survived by her sisters Latane (and Lysle) McNeal and Sheila (and Warren) Baxley. Mrs. McMillan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in 1948. She received her Master’s Degree from Georgia Southwestern College. She and her husband served as Southern Baptist missionaries in Japan for ten years. She taught elementary school in Citronelle, AL, and Blakely, GA, for 19 years. She was a member of Gulfport’s Trinity United Methodist Church and active in the Wesley Sunday School Class. The family requests that memorials be sent to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 329, Palmetto, GA 30268, or to the Salvation Army. Visitation will be Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 4 until 6:00 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The memorial service will be Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Gulfport. A family graveside service will be held in Bay Minette, AL. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com