"I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." John 11:25-26
Mildred Ernestine Cooper Gutzke entered the Lord’s presence on Sunday, June 6, at Kirkwood by the River retirement facility in Birmingham, Alabama. Mildred Cooper Gutzke was born at her home in Thomaston (Silvertown), Georgia on March 17, 1928. Upon graduation from Robert E. Lee High School in Thomaston, Mildred attended Emory University where she graduated in 1948 as a registered nurse. Mildred loved and served her Lord faithfully all her life and was a beautiful helpmate for her husband Mark. Together they ministered and cared for all they met in a home that had open doors 24 hours a day. Their church ministries included Chapel Woods Presbyterian Church in Snellville, GA; Northshore Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, FL and Perry Presbyterian Church in Perry, GA. Their spiritual family is a great and inspiring legacy. She lived in the Atlanta metro area for over 20+ years before moving to Birmingham, AL in 2007. Her husband, The Rev. Dr. Mark E. Gutzke, died in 2005. They were married for 56 years. Survivors include three daughters, Elise Gutzke (the Rev. Dr. Patrick) Carlson of Olney, MD, Dr. Elaine Gutzke (Dr. Jay) Johnson of Birmingham, AL, Ruth Gutzke (Grady, Jr.) Hurst of Tulsa, OK and one son, Walter Manson (Sally Ware) Gutzke of Decatur, GA; grandchildren, Dr. Rachel Carlson (Andy) Kruspe, Rebecca Elise Carlson, William Mark (Melanie) Curtis, Amanda Hoyt Curtis, Jerry Alexandre (Amy) Gutzke, the Rev. Patrick (Jordan) Ware, Jennifer Ware (Kenny) Erdoes, Julie Hurst (Grant) Dawkins, Dr. Mary Hurst (Dr. Bret) Armstrong and Dr. John Manford (Katie) Hurst; great-grandchildren, Riley Gutzke, Coen Gutzke, Hayes Hamilton, Christian Hamilton, Max Ware, Glennes Ware, Emma Erdoes, Jake Erdoes, Nathan Erdoes, Savannah Dawkins, Avery Armstrong and Sophia Armstrong; her sister, Joyce (Jack) Rogers of Warner Robins, GA; her brother-in-law, Kenneth Hall of Warner Robins, GA and her sisters-in-law, Dr. Miriam G. Burke of Austin, TX and Elizabeth Grier of Greenwood, SC. Besides her husband, Mildred was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Rosa Cooper and her sister, Marie Cooper Hall. The burial will be held at 10:00am at Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, GA, followed at 11:00am with a memorial service at Decatur Presbyterian Church, 205 Sycamore Street, Decatur, GA. Visitation will be held at A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home from 6 to 8:00pm on Friday, June 11. The family requests memorials for Mildred be given to Winchester Anglican Church, 4 Weems Lane #232, Winchester, VA 22601-3615 or Alzheimer’s Association, P. O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-66011.
