1945
Mary
2024
Mary Loretta McMillion
July 30, 1945 — March 16, 2024
Crab Orchard, WV
Mary (known to many as “Loretta”) was born in Midway, W.Va, to Grace Elizabeth Walker and James Hansford Walker. She was the youngest of 12 siblings. Mary loved growing up in Midway, the genesis of many lifelong friendships and precious memories. From an early age, she was active in the Church of God, was a camp counselor, and even a cheerleader for a time. Her mother often plaited her hair in two long braids down her back, which earned her the nickname “Piggy”—one that persisted even after she was grown. She often recalled fond memories of playing in a mud pit in Midway, dubbed “India”, with friends because her mother was too scared to let her youngest ride bicycles and roughhouse with older children in the neighborhood; she happily recalled sifting dirt through a scrap window screen into small piles in the neighborhood softball field as recreation.
Following graduation from Sophia High School, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Concord University and her Masters Degree in Education from WVU. Mary was a beloved teacher who had the talent for making every child feel special and so very loved. Many of her students through the decades regard her as their favorite teacher ever — all of her students were her favorite students. She began teaching in 1968 at Shady Elementary, then taught at Crab Orchard Elementary, then Hollywood Elementary, and finally Crescent Elementary, where she retired in 2000. After retiring, Mary substitute taught for many schools across Raleigh County until 2019. Teaching was her superpower.
Mary was a devout Christian whose favorite phrase was, “Lord willing…” A lifelong member of the Church of God, she attended Glen White Church of God from 1990 until her death. She considered her church her second home and its congregation her extended family. Not only did she teach children across the county, but she was an esteemed Sunday school teacher at her church, where she taught the power of God’s love and was a conduit for His boundless grace and compassion. Mary was known for random acts of kindness, including paying for strangers’ groceries, caring for those who could not care for themselves, and extending forgiveness to those society cast aside. Mary knew God, and comforted her family and friends many times before her passing by indicating that she was ready to go home.
Mary is preceded in death by her beloved son, James McMillion; two sisters, Phyllis Walker and Thelma “Sis” Kinsley; and six brothers: Everett “Buck” Wood; Charles Walker; Robert Walker; Cecil Walker; Larry Walker; and Melvin Wood. She is survived by her sweetheart of 53 years, William “Bill” McMilllion, her sister Rebecca Cook, brothers David Bill Walker and Jim Walker, and two granddaughters, Madison and Jaimee McMillion. Her passing has left a space that no one else could ever fill — there will never be another person (wife, mother, friend, sister, teacher, Nana) quite like Mary.
She will be memorialized during a service open to visitors Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Calfee Funeral Home, S. Oakwood Ave., Beckley (viewing is at 12 -1 p.m. and service 1 - 2 p.m.), Pastor Jesse Farley officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent in Mary’s memory to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV, 25802-1472, or donated online at: www.hospiceofsouthernwv.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Loretta McMillion, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, March 21, 2024
12:00 - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Calfee Funeral Home
Funeral Service
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Calfee Funeral Home
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