Dear Deborah, Charles, Trey (Quay), Tony, Percy, Mimi, Gabriella, Gracyn, Kamal, Ruby, Perci and family,
My first introduction to “Aunt Mildred” was as “Mrs. Prothrow” on Hermer Circle, in our Atlanta neighborhood.She wanted Deborah to meet new friends on our circle and my family of girls was her choice for Deborah.Deborah and I were closest in age, but first my sister Cheryl spent the night and then I did the next time.From that first visit, Deborah and I became the best of friends.Eventually, I was told by Mrs. Prothrow to call her “Aunt Mildred”.
Aunt Mildred was a hands-on mother, and her love of children was evident in everything she did.It was always about the children – nourishment through her excellent culinary skills, entertainment – she played cards with us and even took us to her bridge club late night games, caring for other children in her home with her at-home daycare, bobbing for apples at her home on Halloween, and chauffeuring us to and from the parties and events around Atlanta (though Uncle Percy did a lot of the driving as well). All this- while keeping up with Deborah’s older sister Lady Percy. Eventually, Lady married Trey’s dad, Jimmy, and my baby sister, Glynis, had the honor of being the flower girl in their wedding.The simple elegance of the wedding and the red velvet dresses stick out most in my mind. As a pre-teen, I was very impressionable and in awe of the whole event.Lady Percy was such a beautiful bride, and if my memory serves me correct, there was a lot of fuss and commotion about the timeliness of the wedding. I think Lady didn’t like the hairdo from the hair stylist, so Aunt Mildred had to step in and help make it just right. There was a lot going on behind the scene that day, for sure!
I can remember Aunt Mildred, my parents, and Uncle Percy in our kitchen having so much fun a few days before they were to move to Texas.Deborah and I were upstairs for the last sleep over, and they were in the kitchen enjoying themselves, and my guess was that my dad and Uncle Percy may have been imbibing a bit much that night because I had never heard such noise between the four of them.The memory of four very happy people – laughing and being loud - at that moment in time, has always struck me as a real friendship between them. Today, all my sisters consider the Prothrows as family.
After the move to Texas, the Prothrows housed my whole family (my parents and four girls) for the fourth of July weekend on our road trip to California, with all the kids sleeping on the floor in her living room.Aunt Mildred made sure we were all together. She gave love and care to everyone! Deborah has inherited those same qualities as well.
Once Deborah came back to Atlanta for college, one summer we had an apartment together. Who would show up at our place from Texas for at least two weeks or more? Aunt Mildred – checking on her daughter and trying to get information about Deborah’s social life, specifically who was spending time at our apartment.She was already helping Lady out with Trey and Tony in Texas, but there she was, in Atlanta with baby Tony in her arms in our apartment, keeping tabs on her other daughter.She asked me on many occasions what I thought about Deborah’s Morehouse friend, but I didn’t give up any information.
In the absence of my mother, she was right there at my wedding, accompanying her pregnant daughter, my friend, and little Percy – tricycle and all.She didn’t miss a beat!
Aunt Mildred was always welcoming, and loved being home as much as she was willing to travel all over the world.She was a sharp dresser - what we would call a kind of “fashionista” today, and always smelled of her favorite perfume.She was easy to talk to and had so much wisdom, faith and a loving heart.
My next time with Aunt Mildred was after Ron and I moved to Texas where our children were born. Aunt Mildred and I would visit each other from time to time and share recipes.She taught me how to make “hot water cornbread” because that was my favorite thing to eat at her house as a kid.Her culinary skills were excellent, and her love of family and friends came through in her cooking. It was during this time before moving to Boston that she would have the grandkids with her or Mimi and Percy would be visiting during the summer. The grandkids were always nearby.She was the quintessential caretaker - grandmother.
Eventually, our vacations were spent in St. Maarten together watching her grands grow each year along with my children, Omari and Kwame, trailing behind.She had them calling her “Grandma Mildred” as well.She was in her most relaxed and happy state with all of her family right there, not to mention the many friends who also vacationed with them.You could always find her – reading her books, cooking, shopping for groceries or jewelry and putting together the annual jigsaw puzzles.She was so content and happy with Charles, Deborah and family.
Her stay in Tanzania, when Charles was Ambassador, was nothing less than royal, though she exuded a caring, gracious, down-to-earth, accepting and loving demeanor with visitors - Ambassadors and the working staff alike. Everyone loved her, and she loved the people, the adventure, and truly enjoyed her “Bibi” (grandmother) status.She welcomed Ron’s mother, Marie, to share a room with her when we visited, and at that time, the two “eighty somethings” grandmothers had much to talk about.
Aunt Mildred was always part of her daughter’s life experiences whether in Atlanta, Boston, China, Europe, Egypt or Africa and many other international locations.She loved her family and her family truly loved her.Having lost my mom early in life, Aunt Mildred was closest to my mother’s essence, and I always admired and respected her as someone with whom I could go to for sound advice. She had also loss her precious daughter and husband and understood my loss and need for support. She was the “Queen Mother” in every way with her strong faith and motherly instincts.
I thank God for having known such a wise and beautiful woman. I thank Deborah for sharing her with her friends. She stayed as long as she could. She told me one day that she didn’t want to leave Deborah, and that was what kept her going so long -102 years – the love of her daughter.I knew that was the truth because I had seen her in action since I was seven years old - right there for Lady Percy, Deborah and all the grands and great grands.She was the rock - wise, present and supportive.Rest in peace Aunt Mildred, Grandma Mildred, Mama Prothrow, Bibi, Mrs. Prothrow, Mildred B. Prothrow.You have made an indelible loving mark on us all.
Love,
Franca (Elliott Sheehy)
