Mildred Gragg Ivey

In Remembrance of Mildred Gragg Ivey

Mildred Gragg Ivey, of Covington, Georgia, age 94, went to her Heavenly Home on Friday, March 10 after a brief illness. One of nine children she was born in Linville, North Carolina on February 13, 1929 to the late Daniel Windom Gragg and Vinie Coffey Gragg. She is also preceded in death by her son, Mark David Long, sisters, Omie Gragg Coffey, Thelma Gragg Caldwell, Nelda Gragg Greene, and Ruby Gragg Crisp.

Always yearning for more opportunities, Mildred secured a job at a golf resort in Linville. Rubbing elbows with the elite led to a summer job as a nanny for a well-to-do family from Atlanta who vacationed in North Carolina. After graduating from Collettsville High in 1947 Mildred accepted a full-time position as Nanny and was off to the big city of Atlanta.

After earning enough money to further her education, Mildred applied to the Crawford W. Long School of Nursing in Atlanta and was accepted. Acing her courses, she viewed the rigorous curriculum as a challenge and anyone who was acquainted with Mildred knew she was always up for a challenge. It was clear sailing until this beauty met a handsome, determined suitor who pursued her relentlessly. Never looking back, Mildred swapped her starched pinafore and scrubs for a wedding dress. As was common back in the fifties and sixties, she was a stay-at-home Mom taking care of her growing family. She went on to have a total of four children, two girls and two boys, while first living in Hapeville and then moving to Forest Park. As the children became older Mildred worked additional jobs to supplement the family income. This included selling Avon door to door, delivering the Atlanta Journal Constitution and then working for Owen Illinois Plant in Hapeville. She had boundless energy and could work circles around most.

In the early seventies Mildred, her husband Cecil Long, Jr. and family moved from the Forest Park/Morrow area to Newton County. She was employed by the Jasper County Family and Children’s Service and later transferred to Newton County DFACS for a total of eighteen years. She retired on March 1, 1993 and was called back to work part-time for several years.

Outside of spending time with family, Mildred loved gardening and working with her beautiful roses. She took great pride in being known as “the lady with the most beautiful yard on the block.”  If anyone had a green thumb it was her. In reflecting on her life, she said that if she had it to do over she would select a field in horticulture since she loved plants and the outdoors so much.

Over the years Mildred looked forward to her North Carolina trips to visit her siblings and their families. She also enjoyed touring Alaska, Hawaii, and England with her AARP Group and the Golden Eagle Club at her bank. Retirement provided Mildred time to take an active role in the Covington AARP Chapter 3542 where she served as president for two terms.

Mildred was an active member of Stewart Baptist Church for several years and also attended Central Church in Covington.

She is survived by her daughters and son, Lisa Long Shelley (David), Michelle K. Long and Steve D. Long (Lisa); sisters, Ruth Gragg Houston, Carolyn Gragg Poteat, Janice Gragg Smith; and brother, Gene Gragg; grandchildren, Billy Campbell, Crystal Campbell Thomas, Cary Lyle, Brandon Moore (Haley), Jeff Long (Victoria), and Kaylee Long Sinrich; great-grandchildren, Kahler Campbell Vandiver (Corey), Haley Campbell Dobbs (Dylan), Kinsley Campbell, Dylan Campbell, Scarlett Camacho, Stella Camacho, Lora Scott Long, and John McCoy Long, Isabella Moore and Bryson Moore; and great-great-grandchildren, Addison Vandiver, Kendall Vandiver.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Caldwell and Cowan Funeral Home, Covington, Georgia. Visitation will be from 10-11:30 am with the service beginning at 11:30am. Pastor Charlie Morris will be officiating. Interment will be immediately after the service at Stewart Baptist Church Cemetery, 158 Stewart Church Road, Covington, Georgia 30014. In lieu of flowers please make any donations to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901 or 1-800-336-3684.

This obituary was prepared with love and affection by Mildred’s family.