Mildred Bailey Moore, 100, of Avondale Estates, Georgia passed away January 11, 2009.
Born May 19, 1908 in Atlanta, GA, she was the daughter of the late Mattie Mitchell and Edmund J. Bailey of Lithonia, GA., and the devoted wife for over 77 years of her late husband, Thomas Henry Moore, Jr. Mildred graduated from Lithonia High School in 1926. Feeling she needed to help out with family expenses, she turned down an offer by an aunt to fund an all expense paid college education at Agnes Scott College. Instead she enrolled at Draughon’s Practical Business College in Atlanta where she took courses to prepare herself for the business world. Mildred married Thomas Moore in 1928 and early in their marriage helped him in the office of the family business, Imperial Bedding Company. When the government funded a nursery school in Avondale in 1942, she began working there and was manager of the nursery school for the last four months of its operation. At that time she began working in the cafeteria at Avondale Elementary School where she served as assistant lunchroom manager for eleven years. When Forrest Hills Elementary School was built in 1954 she became the cafeteria manager there until she retired in 1973. During the time she was at Forrest Hills, she had 96% student participation in the school lunch program. Under her direction, the Forrest Hills Elementary School cafeteria consistently operated profitably, setting a high standard for other school cafeterias in the county. Mrs. Moore also worked at the voting polls for many years and always found time to help invalid neighbors on an ongoing basis.
Mrs. Moore was a member of First Baptist Church of Avondale Estates for over 40 years where she was involved in various church activities as well as the Golden Agers Program and the Saints Alive Choir for many years. Surviving are two daughters, Martha Whenman of Tucker, GA and Peggy Burnette and husband Gaines of Atlanta, GA. Also surviving are four grandchildren, James Whenman and wife Paula of Norcross, GA., Catherine Chamblee and husband David of Springfield, PA., Gary Whenman of Tucker, GA., and David Burnette and wife Terri of Tigard, OR.; nine great grandchildren, Krysti Roberts and husband Edward of Braselton, Ga., Tina Jones and husband Nathan of Athens, GA., Gary Colin Whenman of Braselton, GA., Christopher and Hope Chamblee of Springfield, PA., and Bradley, Andrew, Michael, and Matthew Burnette of Tigard, OR.; one step great grandson, Bogdan Mirza and wife Andreea of Norcross, GA.; four great-great granddaughters, Rebecka and Hailey Roberts of Braselton and Mayetta and Natalie Jones of Athens, GA. Friends may call on Friday, January 16th from 6 to 8 p.m at A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, Decatur, Ga. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 17th at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Avondale Estates, 47 Covington Rd., Avondale Estates, GA with Rev. Clay Bowden officiating. Interment will be at Hillandale Cemetery in Lithonia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The First Baptist Church of Avondale Estates, 47 Covington Rd., Avondale Estates, GA 30002. A. S. Turner & Sons
