Jeanette Reed Mills

Jeanette passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with the Corona Virus. Friends and family used words like tough, fearless and strong during her fight. She was always positive and relied on her strong faith. Jeanette was alert and clear to the end. She had a lovely conversation with her daughter the day before her death. She was thankful for the prayers and good wishes sent her way. Jeanette like her mother was amazing.

Jeanette Mills was born to Alfred and Florence Marie Reed in Marion Indiana. The family later moved to Michigan where Mrs. Reed sent Jeanette to school at age four. Jeanette was frightened to walk to school, because she said that there were snakes. Mrs. Reed didn’t believe her little daughter, but later found the snake story to be true. Later, the family returned to Marion where Jeanette’s little brother, Theodore Maurice, was born. For quite awhile, Jeanette had the upper hand, but things gradually changed as Theodore grew to be well over 6 feet tall. He was not the “little brother” for long. Jeanette was an excellent student, however, she was in school during challenging times. Jeanette’s math teacher failed all of the African-American students, and told Jeanette that he wanted to fail her too, but couldn’t because of her good grades.

This did not stop after graduation. During high school, Jeanette took business courses and applied for a role in the office at RCA, later Thomson Electronics. The hiring manager told her he could not hire her for the office, but if she wanted to work at the facility she would have to take a factory position. Jeanette worked for the company several years, but after she married her husband, Henry, they moved to Dayton, Ohio where Jeanette attended cosmetology school. When they returned to Marion, Jeanette had a salon in the lower level of their home. Jeanette maintained her beauty license until 1985.

Jeanette continued using her business and math skills in her husband’s construction company, Mills Enterprises, located in Indianapolis. Jeanette did the payroll and oversaw all office activities. Jeanette also used her personal style and communication skills to deal with Henry’s employees, and even became the favorite point of contact of the Corp Of Engineers, during their work on the Finance Center at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. They were always happy to see Jeanette.

Early in their marriage Henry trained Golden Gloves fighters and also did fight promotion. Henry brought Joe Louis to Marion for an event, and Jeanette recalls falling behind during their tour but the thoughtful champ told her, take your time Miss Jeanette. Another of her favorite memories was being out to dinner with her husband and meeting Nate King Cole. She asked him for his autograph, and he wrote on a dollar bill, “love you madly,” which made Jeanette swoon.

Jeanette and her husband were very active in community affairs. While Henry was involved serving the Indiana NAACP as the First Vice President and later State President. Jeanette used her skills and talents in the organization. Jeanette served as secretary and also member chair for many years, for the local Marion branch. She was part of the team that launched the first NAACP women’s group, the Eurilla Wills Auxillary. Jeanette received awards for her commitment to the local NAACP, receiving the highest

award, the Henry Smith Award, given by the branch during their Freedom Fund Banquet, where the guest speaker was Martin Luther King, III. Jeanette was also a Life Member. Jeanette was a “tough cookie’ during these perilous times. Henry often received threats, and Jeanette was always the one answering the phone. She recalled numerous death threats.

Jeanette and Henry had one child, Margo Rene. Jeanette did lose a child, Sandra Lee, who died at birth. Jeanette and Margo were more than mother and daughter, but also friends and great support for each other. Jeanette always supported Margo’s school activities. Once Margo told her schoolmates her mom would take them to a basketball game in Muncie, 12-15 junior-high school girls piled into Jeanette’s station wagon. She actually squeezed all of them in, probably against the law now. Jeanette would always attend the home games where Margo and her dear cheerleading, friend Lisa Stewart were cheering. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Stewart always supported the girls as well. When Lisa’s brother Avis, was playing away games for the Marion Giant varsity team. An interesting note is that Lisa’s aunt Mag, (Margaret) was Jeanette’s best friend during school.

Jeanette was very strong in her faith. She was a member of Allen Temple, AME Church, in Marion, Indiana, where her mother was often known as the Mother of the Church. Jeanette served as treasurer and a Steward for the Church. Her faith and a positive attitude helped her through her many health challenges. Jeanette was a 26-year breast cancer survivor. A year after her breast cancer diagnosis, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. During chemotherapy treatment for the lung cancer, Jeanette did not miss work during her treatment. She had returned to work as a secretary for Prince Hall Housing in Marion. She worked for 10 years for the organization.

Jeanette was very close to her mother. At the age of 95 Florence moved in with Jeanette.. It was never clear who was watching over whom, because for the longest time, Florence did the cooking. Jeanette did end up taking care of her mother during the final months of her life, and was with her during the final hours of her mother’s life. Florence died in 2003 at age 101.

Jeanette was a caring person who was loved by all who came in contact with her and everyone loved her sense of humor . The residents of Prince Hall loved her, and that she always had time for them. During her numerous stays in health care facilities, the staff members enjoyed her light. She got a kick out of teasing the nurses and aides. They would often come in and ask who the current president is or what month it was, and Jeanette would jokingly say George Washington or something equally off the wall. Margo told her one day you are going to find yourself in the psych ward. After a recent stay in Hooverwood in Indianapolis, the staff said that they hated to see her go. That was the sentiment wherever she stayed. Jeanette also loved to read. When she lived in Marion, she would go to the library and she continued her passion, even with a recent diagnosis of macular degeneration. She had also started writing a book, which was about two brothers, who owned a computer store. Jeanette said it was a mystery. She said she had ideas for a couple other books.

Jeanette served as secretary of the Democratic Women’s Central Committee. She volunteered for the Marion Planned Parenthood and later joined the board. She loved movies and sports, including the

Indiana Hoosiers, the Pacers and Colts, golf and Tiger and the William’s sisters. And she always had high hopes for the Marion Giants.

Jeanette is preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra Lee; her father, Alfred; Mother, Florence and her grandson, Michael Ameer Blair, her brother Theodore and her sister-in-law Jacqualine and her dear niece Teresa and her husband Bernard Williams. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Margo Rene (Charles), Grandson, Tchad Khary Charles Blair, (Danielle), grandchildren Addison Rene and Avery Khary, nephews, Theodore Reed, Jr, (Arnita), Michael Allen Reed, Douglas Arthur Reed and his daughter Ryana, great nephew Shelby William (Dameka), cousins, Marilyn Kenney Perkins (Jimmy), Anita Kenney, Aleeta King (Tony), Alan Arthur Anderson, III, Greg Beck, (Shirley), Marilyn Beck, and Marianne Beck and several grandnieces and nephews.

Jeanette thought so much of her dear friends Berdina Bobson, whom she met at RCA. Dee always sent cards to let Jeanette that she was being kept in the prayers of the Church. Jeanette also had an “adopted” daughter, Janice Hicks Slaughter, who always made cakes for Jeanette’s birthdays and brought her special treats. And an adopted support family that always provided care and often, medical knowledge Mrs. Diane Kennaugh and her daughter, Lisa Alexander.

Specials thanks go to special team members, her friend and aide Sherlonda and nurses Maria and Leonna at Hooverwood Jewish Home

If you are considering a token of remembrance, please donate to the Marion Chapter of the NAACP and Allen Temple AME Church, Marion, Indiana.