Mildred Case, Retired Missionary, Dies
The former missionary who was honored recently at the Tennessee State Convention and Camp Meeting and earlier in the Save Our World magazine as the church’s oldest living missionary, Mildred Case, died this morning, September 2, 2013, at the age of 100. She had celebrated her centennial year in January.
The veteran missionary was the widow of Hoyle Case and mother of Sylvia King, who with her husband, Ed King, also served on the mission field.
Hoyle and Mildred in 1938 were commissioned by the World Missions Board to India, where they served until forced to leave by the outbreak of World War II. They were subsequently transferred to Cuba, where they ministered for two terms, one in the 1940s and another from 1955 until 1962. The political situation created by the takeover of Fidel Castro required their return to the States. They completed their ministry in pastoral work in South Carolina, California, and other states. Hoyle died in 2002.
Before their missions career began, Mildred had been a teacher at the Bible Training School, forerunner of Lee University. It was there while teaching she met Hoyle, who was a student from Greenville, South Carolina. They both sensed a calling to India.
She enjoyed telling the story of a Hindu woman who lived next door to her when she first arrived in India. After a friendship grew, she was able to lead the woman to Christ. She was present with the woman when her son was born and—at her request—was asked to give the baby a Christian name. It was the normal custom for the naming ceremony to take place in a Hindu temple, but the husband acceded, and she named the boy Matthew. When it became necessary to leave India and they realized they would not see each other again, the woman wept profusely and declared to Mildred that she would search for her in heaven.
It is easy to imagine that they are enjoying a glorious reunion.
UPDATE:
The viewing will be held on Saturday, September 7, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Westmore Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are handled by Ralph Buckner Funeral Home, 3000 Ralph Buckner Boulevard NE, Cleveland, Tennessee 37311.
