MILDRED LEE STREATER ENGLISH
Mildred Lee Streater English, of Sumter, died on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at Prisma Health Richland Hospital.
Born on May 24, 1935, in the city of Wadesboro, North Carolina, she was the youngest child of the late Thomas and Carrie Adams Streater. The family moved not long after her birth to the city of Cheraw, where Mildred spent the remainder of her childhood, until she graduated from Coulter Memorial Academy. After graduation, she moved to Long Beach, New York, to find work as most young people from the south did. While in New York, she met a young soldier by the name of William Thomas English. The two would soon marry and eventually move to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was stationed.
While in Boston, Mildred was a dedicated member of Holy Tabernacle COGIC, where she devotedly served on the missionary board and held the position as president of the usher board for many years, until the family moved to South Carolina. Upon their arrival in Sumter, Bishop English began the ministry of Greater St. Paul N/D Church. First Lady Mildred was very active in the ministry from its inception. She established the usher board of Greater St. Paul, served as the young adult Sunday school teacher for an extensive period, served as president of the missionary board for many years, served as coordinator for the Bill English Evangelistic Association Outreach Committee, and held the position of church secretary until her passing.
Mildred leaves to cherish: one son, Geoffrey Streater Sr.; three daughters, Sheryl (Ronald) Eady, Sheila (James) Coplin and Shonda English; three granddaughters, Sequita Toya (Paul) Abrams of Gray Court, Tenesha Ciera (Mario) Drake of Cheraw and JaShema (Toa) Panapa of Florence; two grandsons, Geoffrey (Jasmine) Streater Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, and James (Breigh) Coplin III of Denver, Colorado; six great-granddaughters; three great-grandsons; a close cousin, Thelma Woods of Black Mountain, North Carolina; a host of nieces and nephews whom she held dear to her heart; adopted daughters in Christ, Connie Pearson and Denise Franklin; a special sister in Christ, Mary Sumpter; and many sons and daughters in the Lord.
From Massachusetts to South Carolina, her life touched many.
In addition to her parents and her loving husband of 52 years, Mildred was preceded in death by her brothers, Preston (Fannie) Streater and Thomas "June" Little; and sisters, Sarah (John) Hawkins, Louise (Sammie) Isaiah and Ethel (James) McCaskill.
Public viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Greater St. Paul N/D Church, 200 Watkins St., Sumter, with Bishop Henry Simmons officiating and Minister Ernest LeGette, eulogist. Interment will follow in Bishop W.T. English Memorial Park, 3735 Congruity Road, Sumter.
Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.