Georgetown: Mildred C. Higgins died Thursday, November 6, 2008, at Tidelands Community Hospice House. Mrs. Higgins was born in Hartsville on August 10, 1913, the daughter of Ida Waldron and Samuel Hanna Cooper, and moved to Georgetown before her first birthday. As a youngster, she played a small role as one of the children in the recently discovered and restored silent film, The Pied Piper Malone, filmed in downtown Georgetown in the 1920's. She graduated from Winyah High School in 1929 and obtained her teaching certificate from Winthrop College in 1931. Her teaching career spanned forty-six years (1931-1977) beginning in Sandy Bay in South Carolina and continuing at Winyah Schools and Kensington Elementary School, both in Georgetown. In addition to her services as a public school teacher, for many years Mrs. Higgins tutored students of all ages and in every subject; and from the late 1940's to the early 1950's, she also operated a dramatics school. In 1934, she married Oliver M. Higgins, and they celebrated fifty-eight years together before his death in 1992. Upon her husband's election as Mayor of Georgetown in 1964, Mrs. Higgins became the first lady of the city and retained that honor until her husband's retirement in 1976. The Business and Professional Women's Association of Georgetown bestowed upon her the title of Woman of the Year in 1968. Her avocation was creative writing; and throughout her life she wrote and directed poems, skits, plays, devotionals, and programs that were utilized by all levels and types of schools, professional organizations, and churches throughout Georgetown County. One of her favorite creations was the play, "Upon This Rock", written in 1960, which celebrated the one hundred seventy-fifth anniversary of Methodism in South Carolina and highlighted her own beloved Duncan United Methodist Church's role in that history. A lifelong member of Duncan Church, Mrs. Higgins served throughout her lifetime and into her 90's as Sunday School teacher in both the Paul McWhirter Class and the Susanna Wesley Class and was a former member of the Bishop Tarboux Circle. A revered mother, grandmother, great grandmother, writer, teacher, and friend, she was well-known for her inspirational letters, notes, and cards which she regularly sent to family, friends, and even acquaintances. When she became too frail to teach Sunday School, she continued serving her Lord with countless writings to people experiencing life's triumphs and tribulations. Her love for writing was matched only by her love for children and for learning. Throughout the years, several of her educational poems and anecdotes were published in such works as Ideal's Magazine, Grade School Teacher, and Readers Digest. Mrs. Higgins also contributed several chapters towards the United Daughters of the Confederacy republication of For Love of a Rebel. Mrs. Higgins is survived by one son, Oliver M. Higgins, Jr. and his wife Estelle of Columbia; and three daughters: Sonya Dees and husband David of Greenwood, Loril Young and husband Colin of Georgetown, and Karen Price of Georgetown. Other survivors include: grandchildren, William 0. and Lisa Higgins (Columbia), E. W. and Kay Higgins Hall (Cocoa Beach, Fla.), Wendi Dees Dowling (Trussville, Ala.), David M. and Mary Catherine Dees (Matthews, N. C.), Dason Dees (Jupiter, Fla.), John P. M. Price (Atlanta, Ga.), Leslie Price (La Grange Park, Ill.), Kenley 0. Young and Logan K. Young (Columbia), Kaith M. Young (Charleston). Also included are 12 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews Wallis and Greg Taylor (Georgetown), Sara Gurney (Lyons, N. Y.), James and Ruth Cooper (Wilmington, Del.), William Walker (Oak Park, Ill.), Cooper Walker (Jackson, Ga.), and life long neighbors/adopted children Paul I. Skoko and Patricia M. Byrd. Funeral services will be three o'clock Sunday afternoon, November 9, 2008, at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. G. Edward Usher. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Sign a guest book at www.mayerfuneralhome.com. The family will receive friends at the Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home Saturday evening, November 8, 2008 from five until seven. Memorials may be made to Epworth Children's Home, P. O. Box 50466, Columbia, S. C. 29250, Tidelands Community Hospice, Inc., 2591 N. Fraser St., Georgetown, S. C. 29440, or Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, 901 Highmarket St., Georgetown, S. C. 29440. Funeral Home: Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home 222 Saint James Street Georgetown, SC US 29440