MORNING
Gloria Jean Mills, better known as “Jeannie” to her family and friends, was born on December 5, 1944, in Dayton, Ohio. The only daughter and eldest child born to the late Lillian Gresham Gardner and the late James A. Gresham. Jeannie was baptized at an early age at St. Luke Baptist Church. Shortly after marriage, she moved with her husband to Maryland where she joined Vermont Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, DC. There she was very active in various church ministries. After retirement, she moved back to Plum Point to live and take care of her loving mother. Shortly after returning home, she would sing in the choir at Escobrook Baptist Church where her mom was the pianist. Mom and Jeannie retired from the choir in 2016. Rejoining St. Luke in March 2009, Jeannie became a Deaconess in August 2016.
NOONDAY
On January 29, 1966, she was wed to the late John W. Mills, Jr. From that marriage they were blessed with two children, Sheila and Jeffrey. Jeannie worked in Washington, DC and Maryland for over forty years in the banking industry. She loved working in the bank, serving and talking with her customers. She retired from Truist Bank in 2006. Jeannie loved to travel with her husband John. They took numerous trips which included London, Paris, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and many other locations. Some of the shorter trips were taken with their children and grandchildren. Jeannie took a cruise to Alaska with a close girlfriend, Esther Jones. Jeannie’s hobbies were coloring, solving “word find” puzzles, and playing board games with family and friends.
EVENING
Gloria is preceded in death by her grandson, Sterling Mills Perry; #2 brother, Robert Gresham and #3 brother, Gregory 0. Gresham; and sister-in-law, Wilnette Gresham; half-brother, Reggie Gresham; and a special longtime friend, Kennith Johnson.
On Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 8:25 p.m., when the Lord called her name to come to Glory, she went home to be with Jesus. Jeannie leaves a lifetime of joyous memories with her daughter Sheila Mills Carroll and son Jeffrey W. Mills (Juanita), who both live in Laurel, MD; six grandchildren, Jocelyn Mills, Jatia Mills, Jacob Carroll, Jr., Jaita Mills, and Jeramiah Mills, all of Maryland, and Mikeal Mills of South Carolina; because she had so many brothers when talking about them, she referred to them lovingly by numbers, #1, Rev. James L Gresham (Rev. LaRosa) of Highland Springs, VA, #4, Rev. Dr. Alvin R. Gresham (Doris) of Newport News, VA, and #5, Leonard A. Gresham, Sr. (Kimberly) of Bowie, M D; sister-in-law, Cynthia; half-brother, Roland Gresham (Andrea); special friends, Alberta “Bertie” Prather and Gloria Holmes; and a host of nieces, nephews, close relatives and friends in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at Bethel Restoration Center. Mrs. Mills may be viewed on Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment in Maryland National Memorial Park will take place at noon on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
