Barbara Jean Mills, 72, of Englewood, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, February 1, 2010 at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. A native of Murphy, N. Carolina, and resident of Englewood for the past 39 years, she was a daughter of the late Bradford Hughes and Lola Sexton Hughes Hass. She was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church, and was retired from Woods Memorial Hospital in 1993. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, William in their RV across Alaska and the western United States, as well as spending several summers volunteering as Camp Host at Indian Boundary in Tellico. She loved to read, bird watch and nurture her beautiful flowers. She was preceded in death by her step-father, Ferd Hass; and two brothers, Ralph Hughes and Roger Hass.

Survivors include her loving husband and best friend, William B. Mills, Sr. of Englewood; two daughters and sons-in-law, Audrey and Mike Cleveland of Sweetwater, and Lisa and Jimmy Duggan of Etowah; four sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Cindy Mills of Decatur, Chris and Tammy Mills of Madisonville, Tom and Holly Mills of Etowah, and Robert and Pam Mills of Etowah; four sisters, Nell Thomas of Dalton, Ga., Donna Knight of Oregon, Janice Ray of White, Ga., and Penny Kilby of Murphy, N. Carolina; two brothers, Ray Hughes and Johnny Hass, both of Murphy, N. Carolina; 10 grandchildren and spouses, Nick Mills and wife Andrea of Cleveland, Capt. Brandon Mills, USMC and wife Nora of Stafford, Va., Bryan Gaston and wife Lara of Oklahoma City, Ok., Andrew Gaston of Washington, D.C., Alex Manders and husband Brandon of Etowah, Ashley Mills of Madisonville, Dakota Duggan and Tristan Duggan of Etowah, and Garrett Mills and Silver Mills of Etowah; and six great-grandchildren, Carter, Caden and Andersen Mills, Geneva Gaston, and Bailey and Hunter Manders.

Funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, February 4, 2010, in the South Chapel with Pastor Mark Hensley, Dr. Jimmy McCarter and Pastor Chad Denton officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday prior to the service. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5th and proceed to McMinn Memory Gardens for the 10 a.m. committal service, which will conclude with the White Dove Liberation Ceremony. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.