Mrs. Mildred Louise (Heard) Span was born September 23, 1932 to Sallie Bell Heard and Billy Heard in Greenville, Mississippi.
At an early age, Mildred was saved and confessed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Mildred was a devoted member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Elgin, IL. She was a strong woman who believed in the power of prayer and always prayed for her family.
In 1961, Mildred moved to Elgin, IL with her six children and married John W. Span. This union produced three more children.
For 26 years, Mildred worked as a food service worker at Wing School and Elgin High School. Everyone who came in contact with Mildred in the lunch room was blessed by her presence.
Mildred peacefully passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in her home. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John W. Span; her brothers, Billie, Dennis, John, Willie, Arthur, Charles, George, Audrey, and Walter Heard; her sister, Peryl Heard; a son, Jessie (Rose) Heard; a granddaughter, Bernice Heard; and four great-grandchildren, Christian, Makenzie, Makayla, and Joshua Hargrave.
Mildred is survived by her daughters, Carol Richard, Millie (Marvin) Heard-Patterson, Mary Clifton, Dorothy (Arnell) Clifton-Grady, and Deborah Ann Span; her sons, Charles (Maria) Clifton, Tommy Lee Span, and John (Kristina) Span; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Visitation and funeral service will be held at Living Gospel Church of God in Christ at 1515 Dundee Avenue in Elgin on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. Interment to immediately follow the service at Bluff City Cemetery, Elgin.
Please call O’Connor-Leetz Funeral Home, 847-741-1400 or visit our web site: www.oconnor-leetz.com for more information.