Mildred Helen Pearl Case

Mildred Helen Pearl Blackwell Case, 100 years and 8 months, a resident of Cleveland for over twenty years, passed away Monday, September 2, 2013. She was the first-born of Frank and Sylvia Blackwell born January 18, 1913 in Joplin, MO, and began a 92 year-long walk of faith in Jesus that led and sustained her half way round the world to India (1938-1942) and then Cuba (1943-1945 and 1955-1960) as a Church of God missionary. This she accomplished with the love of her life, Hoyle Case, who she married at age 25, along with church ministry in South Carolina, New Mexico, California, and Arizona. The three children God blessed them with (Sylvia, Bud and Jim) gave her the gift of many grandchildren and great grandchildren that she loved to spoil and teach how to play scrabble. Before marriage and her missionary career began, Mildred taught at the Bible Training School, forerunner of Lee University. At 50 when few women think of continuing their education she completed her BA in Education and a Masters in Spanish, continued her duties as pastor?s wife and taught high school English, Spanish, and Bible as Literature for 12 years at Mt. Whitney in Visalia, CA. After Hoyle retired from ministry in Hanford, CA, they moved to Clovis, CA, where she taught Spanish and ESL four more years at West Coast Christian College. They moved to Cleveland, TN, in the early 1990s where for years she knitted yarn slippers and graded Bible study material for inmates that wanted to learn of Jesus. Mrs. Case was the daughter of the late Frank Blackwell and Sylvia DeBoard Blackwell and was also preceded in death by her husband, Hoyle Case; brother, Frank Blackwell; two sisters, Naomi Trimble and Norma Rose Day; brother-in-law, Beverly Ledford and son-in-law, R. Edwin King. Survivors include her three children: Sylvia King of Cleveland, Luther (Bud) Case and wife, Elaine of Visalia, California and Jim Case and wife, JoAnn of Cleveland, TN; ten grandchildren: Gail Rigsby, Sandi Kramer, Jason Case, Christine Moore, Joshua Case, Cherrah Case, Deanna Suderman, Darla Friesen, Jamey Case and Janell Case; twenty great-grandchildren: Jonathan Rigsby, Jessica Rigsby Frazier, Ryan Kramer, Lacey Sawyer, Brandon Perritte, King Kramer, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Moore, Savanah Moore, Christian Case, Breanna Case, Devon Case, Austin Suderman, Jordan Suderman, Jared Suderman, Chad Suderman, Alicia DeVries, Christopher Friesen, Brianna Friesen and Danae Friesen; eight great-great-grandchildren: Madison Rigsby, Jeremiah Kramer, Jordan Kramer, Journey Kramer, Hailey Sawyer, Hannah Sawyer, Truly Perritte and Hannah DeVries; one sister, Dorothy Ledford of Cleveland, TN; several nieces and nephews also survive. The family would like to thank all those involved in the care of Mildred Case: Naomi Deans, Donna Moore, Kathy Cooper, Don and Jackie Walker, Irma Williams, Cameron Fisher, Ron Wood, Dawn, Sue Swinford, James Bradford Family, Mike Watkins, Dr. Kent Chastain and Barbara, Guardian Health Care, Hospice of Chattanooga, Life Care Nurses at Life Care, Sydney and Brenda at Beltone, Mary Smith and numerous family and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 7, 2013 at the Westmore Church of God with Pastor Kelvin Page, Bishop Johnny Childers and Bishop Wendell Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Fort Hill Cemetery with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. Jason Case, Jonathan Rigsby, King Kramer, Ryan Kramer, Brandon Perritte, Jared Frazier and James Bradford will serve as pallbearers. The viewing will be held on Saturday, September 7, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Westmore Church of God. Memorials may be made to the Church of God World Missions to be designated between India and Santiago, Cuba. Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Case family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.