MYRTLE / BREWER – Della Mae Dye Mills lived a purpose-filled life of 82 years serving her God and family and departed this earthly pilgrimage for her home in Heaven from Baptist Hospital-New Albany on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 after a brief illness. Dell was born on November 21, 1942, in Tupelo to the late Rufus Harris Dye and Irmagine Carnathan Dye. A quiet, gentle lady blessed with strength and joy, Dell worked almost 30 years for Action/Lane Furniture Company retiring as a Supervisor. Her priorities in life were her strong faith in God and complete devotion to her family. She lived most of her life in Lee County where she was the mother of five children, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Granny loved family gatherings, cooking, especially baked goods, shopping, playing Domino’s and other card games like Spades and Checkers. Competitive but humble, “Granny” enjoyed every moment she spent with her family and friends throughout her life. She was a longtime member of the Brewer Baptist Church but moved her membership to New Hope Baptist Church in Myrtle six years ago when she moved to be near her son.

A service celebrating her life will be held at 3 PM Friday, April 25, 2025, in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Steve Weaver and her granddaughter, Minister Stephanie Dean, speaking. Private family burial will follow in Fairfield Cemetery in Blue Springs. Visitation will be from 1 PM-3PM on Friday only, all at Holland-Tupelo Chapel, which is honored to serve their friends. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at 3 PM at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming and will be archived thereafter.

Dell is survived by her children, Greg Coggin (Jessica) of Myrtle, Tony Mills of Arkansas, Barbara Randle (Walter, deceased) of Okolona, and Jarna Shackelford (Phillip) of Tremont; grandchildren, Barry Walls (Amanda), Stephanie Dean (Anthony), Sandy Baxter, Tim Ellis (Michelle), Jesse Mills, Cassie Mills, Lauren Burleson (Spencer), Heather DeConter (Trey), Breanna Smith, Emily Coggin, Levi Smith, and John Hunter Smith; great-grandchildren, Lee Walls (Ellen), Jorie Walls, Taegne Walls, Hayden Allred, Christian Dean, Clark Dean, Anna Brook Ellis, Carley Ellis, Emma Ellis, Andrew Shackelford, Alex Minthern, Aiden Williams, Ramsey Kay Smith, John Brooks DeConter, and Rhett Walker DeConter; and great-great-great-grandchildren, Stormy Brook Rogers, Amistyn Walls, and Jesse’s two; her brother, Rufus Gene Dye (Janice) of Dorsey; and all other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rufus and Irmagine Dye; husband, Bill Mills; her son, Eddie Walls; and her sister, Pat Toggle.

Pallbearers will be Anthony Dean, Tim Ellis, Barry Walls, John Hunter Smith, Andrew Shackelford, Trey DeConter, Josh Dye, and Spencer Burleson.

Honorary pallbearer will be Levi Smith.

Condolences for the family may be left on Dell’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com.