Mrs. Mildred Horton, age seventy-five, went home to be with Jesus on Thursday, August 21, 2003 following a period of illness.

     Mildred was born in Laurel Mississippi on October 28, 1927. Daughter of the late Arzella Pickens and Bennie Smith, she had 5 sisters and 4 brothers. Mildred moved to Erie, Pa at the age of 9. She attended Longfellow Elementary and Gridley Jr. High. 

     Mildred is the wife of Howard R. Horton and the mother of thirteen children, twenty-nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

     She served as a scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America and became active in the NAACP. In 1964, she served as Youth Advisor for the NAACP Youth Council, and in 1965, she was appointed Chairperson of the Education Committee.  Mildred was elected to serve two terms as president of the NAACP.  She was instrumental in getting public housing for unwed mothers and continued schooling for pregnant teens.  Mildred was involved in the recruitment of black teachers and administrators for the Erie School System.  She also helped establish a dialogue between community, local government and the city police which helped endorse the hiring of ten black police officers.

     As a member of  St. James AMEC, she served as a Stewardess of Board #1, president of the Choir and Trustee Protem to her then Pastor, Jon S. Goshay. 

Other past affiliates include Oziel Temple# 317, Daughter of Isis, Sahara Count#9, Executive Board of the BTW Center, Board of Directors, O.I.C. and MLK Center; Member, Urban Coalition, ALF-CIO labor organization, Caucus on Minority Affairs (COMA), Poisettes Bowling Team and President of the High-Roller Bowling League.  She was employed thirty-six years at Erie Technological Products, four years at Gannondale Home for Girls and sixteen years at Upward Bound Program sponsored by Gannon University.

The soul-mate and children of Mildred Horton in their sharing of the remembrance of her are in extreme agreement with what her heavenly Father says.  Mildred was  blessed and highly favored. She was more than a conqueror, she was an over comer.  She was an ambassador for Christ, the salt of the earth, more precious than rubies, virtuous, a giver to the poor, a feeder to the hungry, a fighter, a watcher and a prayer warrior.  She loved justice and cared about mercy.

 She was a mother to the motherless, an encourager to the down hearted, a guide and witness to Christ, a teacher, wise , a sister, a friend, she bore the infirmities of the weak. 
 She was a lover of life; she adored the creator's mountains, oceans and especially the rose. She was the righteousness of God; she taught her children the importance of integrity. She was a helpmate; she guarded her husband's heart.

At 11:28pm on August 21, 2003 her  children watched as she made her departure from this place and they witnessed the dark skies light up for her grand escort to the bosom of her heavenly Father.  To live is Christ, to die is gain. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 
Now playing  "Highway To Heaven"