Mildred N. (Norphlet) Egerson

A native of Lafayette County, Mildred N. Egerson was born May 11, 1919, to the late Jerry and Vermacy Holt Norphlet and was the eldest of ten children. Mildred received her early education at Mt. Hope School and Taylor Vocational High School.

She confessed a hope in Christ at Mt. Hope M. B. Church at an early age and served faithfully until her health no longer allowed her to physically attend. In her years of church ministry, she served on the Mother’s Board, Sunday School Teacher, Sick and Prayer List,  Choir Member, Mission Ministry, B.T.U. and Bible Study

Mildred was united in matrimony to the late Reverend Lee Egerson on February 10, 1935, and to this union, 12 children were born.  She was gainfully employed at the Oxford-Lafayette County Hospital (presently known as Baptist Memorial Hospital – North MS). While there, she held the positions of Laundry Press Operator and later Operating Room Transporter. She retired after twenty-seven years of dedicated service.

Mildred was the kind of woman that asked very little of others, yet shared of herself through her gardening, cooking, canning, and raising baby chickens. She also enjoyed working in her flower bed and making sure that her grand,  great grand and great-great grandchildren had breakfast before school. In 1950, "Emeritus Matron Mildred" became a member of The Heroines of Jericho, Taylor Court #95, where she held various positions, such as: Assistant Secretary, Secretary, and Most Ancient Matron. She was a member of the Loyal Lady Herald of the Golden Circle in Oxford, MS and received the Elnora McGowan Award in Jackson, MS, in 2015 and she loved it when the family got together for 5th Sunday Dinners and Christmas Dinners.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, with her loving family by her side, Mildred departed this life and went home to receive her heavenly wings. She will be forever loved, and her legacy cherished and carried on by her surviving six children: Luther (JoAnn) Egerson, and Relva (CW) Hairston of Taylor, MS, Cenora McGee of Oxford, MS, Vermacy D. Corbitt of Taylor, MS, Alma (Lynn) Corbitt of Jackson, MS, and Thelma (Jimmy) Willingham of Taylor, MS; her daughter-in-law: Earlene Egerson of Racine, WI. And the family tree branches spread to 45 grandchildren, 112 great grandchildren, 133 great-great grandchildren, 14 great-great-great grandchildren.

Mildred is preceded in death by her parents: Jerry and Vermacy Holt Norphlet; her husband: Reverend Lee Egerson; her children: Nina B. Brown, Cora Johnson, Mildred J. Townsend, Wesley Egerson, Martha Ivy and Jeremiah Egerson; her brothers: McKinley Norphlet, James Norphlet, Hezekiah Norphlet, Moses Lockhart, and Twilton Lockhart; her sisters: Geneva Egerson, Cherry Tyson, Emma Rockette, Mae Phyllis Fondren, and Lorinne Lockhart.

All things are possible through Jesus Christ, who strengthens me (Phil: 4:13). A godly mother is the launching pad that provides the rocket our young children need to soar, so they can reach those high levels of success. We thank God for the gift of family because this is the tie that binds us to one another in sickness and health or joy and sorrow.