Mildred Taylor McClees

Mildred Taylor McClees

September 3, 1927 – November 22, 2013

Mildred Taylor McClees, 86, of Elm City left this earth peacefully Friday at home.  A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Elm City United Methodist Church, 106 N Parker Street, Elm City. The elevator is located on the side street of the church. Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Elm City.  The Rev. Janine Youngstrom will officiate.   The family will receive friends 6 – 8 p.m. Monday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson.   Mildred was born in Durham on September 3, 1927 to Ralph Gordon Taylor, Sr.  and Mildred Elsie Wolfe Taylor.  She graduated from Durham High School in 1945 and from Duke University in 1949 where she met her husband, Thomas McClees.  They were married in the Duke University Chapel on July 1, 1950.  They lived in Chapel Hill for two years before returning to Elm City.  Mildred, “Mimi” as she was known to her friends and family, was a founding member of the Wilson Arts Council where she was involved with The Wilson Active Artists for many years.  She was also an active member of The Wilson Country Club Ladies Golf Association.  Mimi worked as a medical social worker for the Wilson County Health Department for 30 years.  She finished her last 2 years of work at the N.C. Special Care Center, in Wilson.  Mimi was a talented painter, ceramic maker, and jewelry maker.  She was loved dearly by all her family and friends.  She was an outgoing, fun, caring and generous person that drew people to her.  One friend described her as a “ray of sunshine.”  You always felt good when you were with her.   Mimi is survived by her husband, Thomas Atwood McClees, Sr. of the home; her daughter, Kim Taylor McClees of Deer Harbor, WA and her son, Thomas Atwood McClees, Jr. of Wilson.   She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Gordon Taylor, Sr. and Mildred Elsie Wolfe Taylor and her siblings, Margaretta Taylor Mulholland, Joseph Ovander Taylor and Major General Ralph Gordon Taylor, Jr.   In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Wilson Arts Council, 124 Nash Street SW, Wilson, NC  27893 or the Elm City United Methodist Church, PO Box 307, Elm City, NC  27822.   Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.