Category: 1934

Born 100 years ago at Wilderness Plantation, The Plains, Zachary, LA, Albert C. Mills, Jr. died early Tuesday, November 12, 2013. He was the son of Godly parents, Albert C. and Margaret Jane “Maggie” McKowen Mills. For his entire life he honored his father and his mother. He loved and remained faithful to his wife, Kathleen Louise Riddle for 71 years. They were married May 20, 1942 in St. Francisville, LA. Albert Mills stood firm and unwavering in his faith in God and trusted fully in His Son, Jesus Christ, for his salvation. He joined the Plains Presbyterian Church by profession of faith in 1923. An active member his entire life, he served as a deacon from 1936 until elected and installed as an elder in 1946. He was given emeritus status in 1990.

He diligently prepared himself for his life’s vocations. He attended the Plains Church one-room school for First through Third grades,  and then went to Zachary High School where he graduated in 1930. He attended Davidson College in North Carolina for two years then transferred to LSU where he earned a BS degree in Agriculture Commerce in 1935. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served bravely in the United States Army in defense of his country during WWII. He trained men and operated postal service on both the East and West Coasts before being sent to England with his Army Postal Unit APO #544. He then served in Norway where he operated a P.O. for American Troops assigned to disarm German soldiers. He was discharged with honor and distinction with the rank of captain. He consistently provided for his family through hard work and sacrifice as a worker at Rhodes and Mills General Merchandise in Zachary, a manager at the Plains Store, as a cattle rancher, rural letter carrier for 30 years, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Zachary from 1956-1987, and avid gardener, skilled hunter and fisherman, organizer of Tri-Parish Co-Op, Officer of EBR Parish Farm Bureau and Member of the Cattlemen’s Association. His outstanding achievement was loving with devotion his wife, four children, nineteen grandchildren, and seventy great-grandchildren. He taught us how we should live the Christian life and serve God through humility, consistency of character, prayer life, family devotions, integrity, and Godly example. We praise God and thank him that we were blessed with such an honorable and loving husband and earthly father. He continues to be a living testimony to us all.

His example lives on. “”Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”” Job 12:12. Visitation will be at Plains Presbyterian Church, 22929 Old Scenic Highway 964 in Zachary, LA, on Friday, November 15, 2013, from 5pm until 8pm and then on Saturday, November 16, 2013, from 9am until funeral services at 11am, conducted by Rev. Bob Wojohn, Rev. Todd Lowery, and Rev. Campbell Silman. Burial will be at Young Family Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Kathleen Louise Riddle of St. Francisville; one daughter, Kathleen Davis of Zachary; two sons: Wilmer R. Mills and his wife Betsy Jennings Mills of Zachary; David P. Mills and his wife Mary Lynn Farmer Mills of Zachary; daughter-in-law Dotty Mills; sister Jane Mills Burk of Zachary; brother Gilbert C. Mills of Zachary; 19 grandchildren and 70 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert C. and Maggie McKowen Mills; brother, Shannon Mills; son Albert Mills III; son-in-law John Mallory Davis; and grandson Wilmer Hastings Mills.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Carter Mills, Andy Mills, Stuart Mills, John Mills, John Dan Davis, Mallory Davis, “”Chip”” Mills, and Kirk Mills. Honorary pallbearers will grandsons-in-law: Clint Gardner, Darrel Zweigle, Michael Ackman, Charles Irby, Trace Pourciau, Jon Davis, Daniel Hogue, Ryan Dawson, and Madison Morris. Additional honorary pallbearers will be brother Gilbert C. Mills, brother-in-law Dr. N.B. Riddle, and nephews Shannon Mills, Jr., Robert Mills, Jack Burk, and Gilbert C. Mills, Jr. S

hare sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Plains Presbyterian Church Mission Fund.

Robert Breedlove Moffett ’34, of Winston-Salem, N.C., went to join his maker on Dec. 15 at Hospice Home in Winston-Salem. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor Moffett. He was born in Kiangyin, China, the son of Presbyterian missionaries, Lacy Irvin and Kate Rod Moffett, on April 5, 1910.

He graduated from Davidson College. He was one of eight children. His brothers and sisters who preceded him in death were: Newton Moffett, Rod Moffett, Alex Moffett, Irvine Moffett, Florence Snell, and Cai Conway. He is survived by his sister, Martha Ellen Forbes; his son, Robert W. Moffett (Charlotte E. Moffett), 2416 Wimbledon Cir., Burlington, NC 27215-7685; his grandson, Robert L. Moffett (Joy); his great-grandchildren, Daniel Robert Moffett and Lucy Moffett; and his son-in-law, John Owen.

He was a major in the U.S. Army during WWII and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He continued his military career in the U.S. Army Reserve until his retirement. He and his wife, Eleanor, moved to Burlington, N.C., in 1945, where they had a daughter, Alice Rod Moffett, who passed away in May 2009, and a son, Robert W. Moffett, who currently lives with his wife in Burlington. While in Burlington, he was principal of Glen Hope Elementary School. When that school closed, he became principal of Jessie Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro.

He was both a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church in Burlington. He dedicated his life to the teaching of children, and later, in retirement, to his gardening. He grew many vegetables for his family and gave the excess away to the community. He displayed great optimism and love for everyone and always had a smile for everyone he met.

John Hill Fitzgerald, Jr. ’34 died Nov. 27 in Lincolnton, N.C.

He was a native of Crewe and a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

He moved to Lincolnton and opened his medical practice in December 1940. He retired from the medical profession in 1998 after 58 years of service.

He is survived by five sons, John H. Fitzgerald III, 203 Glover Rd., Zebulon, GA 30295-3245; James G. Fitzgerald, N. Brandt Fitzgerald, C. Montgomery Fitzgerald, and Fred S. Fitzgerald; two daughters, Anne F. Godfrey and Elizabeth F. Stowe; 21 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Harold Rawling Pratt-Thomas ’34, M.D., entered into eternal life Mar. 29.

Dr. Pratt-Thomas was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, June 9, 1913, the son of Dorothy Parkin and Harold Pratt.

After World War I, his mother married Lee Hamilton Thomas, who adopted him.

He graduated from Davidson College with an A.B. degree, and later received an honorary degree from his alma mater. He was granted his M.D. degree from the Medical College of the State of South Carolina in 1938. After serving his internship and residency in pathology at the Cincinnati General Hospital, he joined the pathology department at MUSC, where he remained for 49 years.

During this time, he served as chairman of the department and dean of the School of Medicine, as well as president of the institution. He established the School of Cytotechnology, which was among the earliest in the nation devoted to this discipline. He was a fellow of the American College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Medical Society of South Carolina, the AOA, and was president emeritus of the Waring Historical Library.

Among his many honors, he was awarded honorary degrees from the College of Charleston, Davidson College, and MUSC.

Dr. Pratt-Thomas was twice selected by his students for the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching, and his students commissioned his portrait by Robert Bruce Williams, which currently hangs at MUSC.

He was a member of the St. Andrew’s Society, the Medical Society of South Carolina, the Medical History Club, the South Carolina Society, and the Screen Actors Guild.

In addition to his devotion to his family, his avocations included being a master gardener, painting, photography, growing orchids, yachting, and being an avid outdoorsman.

Dr. Pratt-Thomas is survived by his wife, Mary “Polly” Douglas Pratt-Thomas, 23 Legare St., Charleston, SC 29401; his children, Dorothy Parkin Pratt-Thomas Leonard (W.B. Chisolm Leonard), Mary Porcher Pratt-Thomas Evans, Harold Rawling Pratt-Thomas, Jr. (Lou Ann Scarborough Pratt-Thomas), and Erskine Douglas Pratt-Thomas (Leslie Darwin Pratt-Thomas); his brother, Frank Parkin Thomas; his eight grandchildren, Mary Douglas Leonard Ohl, W.B. Chisolm Leonard, Jr., Caroline Heyward Evans Johnson, George Rawling Evans, Helen Cooper Pratt-Thomas, Harold Rawling Pratt-Thomas III, Jeffrey Douglas Pratt-Thomas, and Taylor Darwin Pratt-Thomas; and his five great-grandchildren, Nelson Porter Ohl, Virginia Bailey Ohl, Dorothy Wade Leonard, Harry Locke Johnson III, and Peter Cordes Porcher Johnson. He was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Thomas Hunter, and his brother, Lee Hamilton Thomas, Jr.