EVERLEE MILLS

Our beloved EverLee was born on April 27, 1944 in Aikens County, South Carolina. One of five daughters born to H.B. and Georgia Mae Borum, she and her family moved to Washington, D.C. when EverLee was four years old. In D.C., she was an exceptional student, graduating with honors from McKinley Tech High School in the spring of 1961, where she set her goals on nursing - laying the foundation of a life-long mission to help others. She attended nursing school at Catholic University in D.C. - excelling in her studies. Upon graduating as a Registered Nurse, she found work in her community for a  local hospital before moving into the school system to help underserved children.

After nursing school and while working, EverLee was blessed, through her previous marriage, with a son, Nelson B. Simmons III, in 1963. Her one and only child. She met Sammie Lee Mills in 1968. The couple married on May 8, 1971 after moving to San Diego, CA.  Once in San Diego, EverLee, affectionately known to many as "E" or "Mama Eve," continued as an RN and worked for the San Diego Unified School District for over a decade. Having worked her way to a leading position within the county, she was responsible for the placing of nurses in schools throughout the various districts. Having an affinity for helping young girls, she began fostering daughters in addition to her work as an RN. In the years 1981 and 1982, she established her own business using both the RN and administrative skills she acquired during those post Nursing School years.  She owned and operated the 'Mills Board and Care Home' (later creating Mills Independent Living) and ran that business well into her 70's. EverLee nurtured, mentored, cared for and helped hundreds of women and young girls throughout the city over the following 40 plus years.

A dedicated servant of the Lord, EverLee and her husband became founding members of what would be their forever home church, Good News Missionary Baptist Church. In the structuring of the church, EverLee became the church's first secretary and both formed and headed the Pastor's Aide Committee. A dutiful member of the Choir, Mission and Sunday School, she was regularly in attendance at church through the week and weekends, where she could be heard from the pews saying her recognizable,

"A-maaahn!" She was often on the phone with her cherished friend, Sister Ella B. Hughes, preparing the next church events. She was a faithful member of her church and devout follower of her savior, Jesus Christ.

EverLee developed a deep and strong relationship with who would become her adoptive parents, Callie Mae and Brooksie Brown, along with their son,

Andrew Lee Henderson ( wife - Shirley Henderson) and his daughter, Sheila D. Henderson - her deeply beloved niece. They maintained their mother-father-brother relationships until preceding her in their departure from this earthly home.

If there was one pastime EverLee enjoyed, it was her love of the slot machines. A frequenter of local casinos and long weekends in Las Vegas, she always enjoyed a cold 'lite' beer, a cigarette and pulling those handles. She loved seafood, particularly gumbo and steamed crabs, and passed that love on to her son and grandchildren. She, along with her nearest and dearest Rosetta and Jerry, O'Linda and Phil, Joyce and Harold and others could often be found entertaining in their homes into the night.

EverLee did love family. Some blood and many of the heart. On April 12th, 2022 God "plucked another rose to adorn his table," as she often quoted. She entered into rest and reward at 4:30am after toiling for many years with various ailments. She was preceded in death by her biological parents, her adoptive parents, her brother Andrew Lee and four sisters - Linda, Patricia, Bernice and Lizetta. She leaves to cherish her memory and maintain her legacy, her husband Sammie Lee Mills; her son

Nelson B. Simmons III of San Diego, CA; a very special niece/daughter,

Sheila D. Henderson (Ahmad Steele) of Houston, TX; Seven dear grandchildren -  DeAndre E.L. Simmons of Berlin, Germany; Jermain Morgan of San Diego, CA;

Goldy B. Simmons of Chandler, AZ; Janelle Bowes-Simmons and Linelle Bowes of Victoria, B.C. (Canada); Danielle and Joshua Simmons, also of San Diego, CA. One great-grandchild Jaylon James Bowes-Simmons; Godson Harold Joseph Mack III (Carmen and family) of San Diego, CA; Goddaughter LaTasha P. Wilson (daughter: Alexis); Foster daughter, Sandra Tillman of San Diego, CA (Alyssa Tillman); and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, foster daughters and those for whom she cared through her Board and Care Home.

"When you've done the best you can, you can walk away in peace."

- EverLee        

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