Obituary of Mildred Lanier

Services for Millie Middleton Lanier, 98, a longtime resident of Arp, are scheduled for 2:00 pm, Sunday, March 1, at the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home Chapel, Overton, with the Reverend Doctor Ron Klingsick officiating. Burial will be in the Mason Cemetery, Arp. Mrs. Lanier died Wednesday, February 25, in Arlington where she had lived for the past several years. She was born July 6, 1910, in Kinta, Oklahoma to the late C.M. and Roberta Dunnavant Hodges. She moved with her family to Arp in 1931. Mrs. Lanier was a charter member of the Arp Emmanuel Baptist Church and had also been a member of the Arp Garden Club. During World War II, she worked for the U.S. Post Office and later as a bookkeeper for Smith Motor Company, Vivian, Louisiana. She was famous for her divinity, fudge and pound cake, which everyone tried to emulate. She and her husband, Alvin Lanier, had also worked as receptionists for Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Troy Middleton and Alvin Lanier, five brothers, Clifton Raper, Everett Raper, Gus Hodges, Wilson Hodges, and Glenn Hodges and five sisters, Tess Hodges Shaver, Lorene Hodges Pebworth, Lou Hodges Young, Lala Raper, and Elon Raper. She is survived by her brother, Jimmy Hodges of Rockdale; a sister, Juanita Johnson of Arlington; and numerous nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Roy Hodges, Frankie Stone, Geary Mortimer, Dr. Mark Lanier, Jeff Wood, and Brandt Wood. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Saturday, February 28.