Mildred Lillian Ling's Obituary
Mildred Lillian Ling passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024. She was born in Dayton, Ohio on October 15, 1946. She was 77 years old. She is survived by her loving son, James Shields and his wife, Laurie and grandchildren, Elliot, Lilly, & Jonah. Also by Donna Shields Midyette (John), grandchildren Lauren & Michael; Stephanie Shields Provenza and grandchildren Tony & Joey; Steve Shields (Lisa), and grandchildren Kristina, Austin, & Amanda; and cousin Billy Ling (Linda). She was preceded in death by her parents Ezelda Ledoux Hahn Ling and Eugene Sohm Ling; and sister Ezelda Jeanie Ling Curtin.
During a move to Corpus Christi, Texas, following her father’s death in 1948, Millie’s mother Ezelda stopped for the night in Bay St. Louis, Ms., where she was convinced by the hotel porter to stay for a few more days because “it was a great place to live and raise children.”
They never left.
Millie’s affinity for math and the sciences led her to get a degree in math from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio in 1968, where she also minored in chemistry.
First approached by the FBI during her senior year of college for a job as a chemist, Millie decided coding computers with the National Security Agency was a better fit. She worked there for five years before getting married in 1972. She moved back to her beloved hometown on the Gulf Coast in 1984 where she lived between the bay and Bass Lagoon (yes, a lagoon, she looked it up!)
After coming back to Bay St. Louis without a job, she was recruited by her sister Jeanie to help run poker games out of her house, helping to cook, clean, and serve the players. (this was before the casinos arrived). There she also met one of the players, Larry McDonough, who would become a dear companion for nearly 25 years, until his passing in 2008.
In 1985, she got a job working with computers at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. From there, she transferred to the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) at Stennis Space Center, then to the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO), also at Stennis. She made many lifelong friends while working at Stennis. Hurricane Katrina and retirement brought her to Mandeville to be closer to her son and family. Her fondness for the Gulf Coast spanned her whole life, with plans to return recently taking shape.
Millie loved being known as Grandma Ding-a-Ling. When Millie wasn’t supporting her grandchildren (and eating nachos) at sports events, school functions, and dance recitals, she would often pepper them with Jeopardy questions by text. Millie also enjoyed meeting friends at the Mississippi casinos, watching science fiction movies and television (especially the New Year’s Eve Twilight Zone marathons on TV), or bringing her infamous deviled eggs or fudge to social functions.
She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mrs. Ling may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org .
Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Mildred’s life at E. J. Fielding Funeral
Home, 2260 W 21st Avenue, Covington Louisiana on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, from noon - 2 p.m.
The Ling family invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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