By Staff
Mildred Evelyn Slaughter, 71, of East Bertrand Road in Niles, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009 at Memorial Hospital with her family by her side.
Services to honor Mildred's life will be held at Brown Funeral Home on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1:30 p.m. with a time of visitation to be held one hour prior to the service.
She will be interred at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles.
She was born on March 3, 1937 to the late Albert Murl and Velma Estelle (Poindexter) Tedder in Cabot, Ark. She was one of 12 children raised in the Tedder household.
On Sept. 18, 1954 Mildred wed the love of her life, Ed Wess Slaughter at a ceremony in Breadsville. Together they had five children.
Before Mildred had children and became the most hospitable homemaker anyone knew she worked outside the home, working at Brandywine Schools in the cafeteria, a nursing home and even Niles Library, but Mildred's family was her number one priority. She became a homemaker to take care of her family and house.
She loved the spring season because it meant that she could get outside and plant her flowers, spend time in her garden and have even more get-togethers. Mildred was always cooking, not because she enjoyed eating so many different types of food but because when she cooked it meant she got to feed others and see the joy on their faces. Her house was visited by many and no one ever left without their stomach full and heart happy. All she ever wanted to do was make other people happy. She never met a stranger and one easy way to bring cheer to her entire neighborhood was her Christmas decorations. The house would be elaborate inside and out and seen by all that were near and Christmas shopping always started Dec. 27 for the next year.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed; brothers, Leon, Ronny and Jack Tedder and sister, Eddith Tedder.
She is survived by her children, Cindy (David) Jerdon of Niles, John (Karen) Slaughter of Edwardsburg, Judy (Gene) Erickson of Addison, Edward "Allen" Slaughter of Niles and Teresa (David) Adams of Big Rapids; 13 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and siblings, Lilburn (Lucille) Tedder of Searcy, Ark., Dorothy (Jay) Glenn of Niles, Jerry (Brenda) Tedder of Niles, Murl (Pat) Tedder of Judsonia, Ark., Hellen (Jimmy) Olson of Searcy, Ark., Eddy (Sara) Tedder of Forest City, Ark. and Patricia (John) Clemons of Cherry Valley, Ark.
Memorial donations may be made to The Center for the Homeless, 813 S. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601.
Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com
Arrangements were by Brown Funeral Home &Cremation Services of Niles.