Wilhelmina Wiley Reid (Towns) Mills

Wilhelmina Mills, known as Minnie, Billie, Mrs.T, Auntie, Mom, and Grandma died peacefully in her sleep at home in the early hours of Easter Sunday at the age of 102 years.

She was predeceased by her husbands Franklin Towns and then Cecil Mills as well as her daughter Lynda Pauline (Towns) Vegys, son-in-law Algirdas Vegys, her son David Bruce Towns, and daughter-in-law Linda May (Hobbs). She is survived by her youngest daughter Carol Anne Towns (Andrew Gutauskas) and her grandchildren Laura Vegys (Ben Pinkney), Adam Vegys (Jewelly), Bronwyn Towns (Clint Lavado), Meaghan Towns, Dearran Towns (Melissa), Ona Gutauskas, Kristina Gutauskas, John Gutauskas (Jessica DM), Clara Gutauskas (Jason Gharibo), Vincent Gutauskas (Jessica Rose), and Tiesa Gutauskas; and honorary granddaughter Lucy Young.

Also her great grandchildren Aiden Towns, Emily Towns, Griffith Lavado, Llewyn Lavado, and Hugh Cann. She will be greatly missed as well by her honorary family William and Nancy Leaton, Sarah, Rachel and Matthew.

Billie lived a colorful life starting with being a 5 month preemie in 1921 when tiny babies seldom survived. She was the last of 6 children and had a turbulent childhood. At 15yo became a maid in a significant Ottawa household, beloved by her employer. Billie married Franklin at the end of WW2 and began a family together in Toronto. In the early 1950's they moved to Collingwood. Billie was active in the CGIT in the United Church. She and Franklin met Jesus through Pentecostal friends and eventually settled into First Baptist Church. Franklin died suddenly in 1961 leaving her to raise a 15yo, 12yo and 6yo on her own. She was still active in women's ministries and Sunday School for 40 years. With all her children grown Billie married Cecil Mills and had 3 lovely years adventuring all over north America in his little bowler trailer. He also died suddenly and she was on her own again. At 60 years of age she went to Humber College for a year to get an ECE certificate so she could work with disabled preschool children, which she did lovingly for 2 years.

Billie had now become a Grandmother and was always there when needed as well as sharing birthday parties and holidays. Although slowing down a lot, Billie continued to want to be a part of her great grandchildren's lives also. She moved to Brampton when she was 80yo and immediately became an active part of First Baptist here, never missing an adult Sunday School class. When she was 91 she finally gave up her apartment and came to live with Carol and Andrew. But she continued to enjoy going to plays, ballets, concerts, dinners, even to pubs to hear her favorite band play. She loved all sorts of music but songs of worship were her favorite.

When she finally left us, she had been serving Jesus in her heart for 68 years. We are sure that when she stepped through the final curtain, He met her with, “Well done, good and faithful servant."

Family and friends will be received at the Ward Funeral Home on Friday April 12th from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church on Saturday April 13 at 11 a.m.

Billie will be laid to rest next to her beloved Franklin in the Creemore Cemetery