Almeda Belcher Mills, 96, of Stuart, VA, died January 15, 2021 at Blue Ridge Therapy Connection. She was born on November 4, 1924 in the Buffalo Ridge area of Patrick County to the late Joseph Benjamin Belcher and the late Fannie Vaughn Belcher. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles H. Mills, son, Michael Rodney Mills, brother Cecil Asa Belcher, and sisters, Susie Belcher Arnold and Gladys Belcher Morrison.
She was a graduate of Stuart High School and attended Radford University and the University of Virginia. She taught school in Patrick County for several years and was the county’s first special education teacher. In addition, she worked with her husband in the family businesses, including Mills Department Store in Stuart for 15 years. A long-time member of Stuart Baptist Church, she taught Sunday School, served as Church Clerk, and worked as Church secretary. She retired from the First National Bank of Stuart.
Mrs. Mills is survived by a son, Douglas Lane Mills of the home and Princeton, NJ, a daughter-in-law Robin Grant Mills of Disputanta, VA, one granddaughter Ashley Nicole Mills of Disputanta, VA, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Patrick Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), PO Box 743, Stuart, VA 24171 or Patrick County Historical Society, PO Box 1045, Stuart, VA 24171.
