Mrs. Mildred England Anders, 101, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023. She was born in 1921 in the Green Cove on Indian Creek near Burnsville, NC. She is preceded in death by her husband J.B. Anders and daughter June Elaine Anders, by her parents, Herbert and Mamie Higgins England, her brothers Armin (Louise), Perry (Eloise (not deceased), Howard (Beula), Clay (Lois) and Ed (Helen) England, her in laws Eva Anders Turner (Dick), Brian Anders (Joy (not deceased), Eugene Anders, and Warren Anders (Marie (not deceased). Mildred is survived by her daughter Cheryl Hahn (Mike), son James Ray Anders (Paula), daughters Nancy Anders and Vickie Sealock as well as five grandchildren: Andrea Hartman, Scott Anders (Amber), Amanda Beckner (Ricky), Jennifer Griffin (Lincoln), Victoria Jean Boles (Jeffrey) and thirteen great grandchildren: Pandora and Caelan Hartman, Dylan, Landon, Sydney, and Ryliey Beckner, Dashiell, Roland and Delia Griffin and Jada and Aidan Nixon and Phoenix and Zoey Mathewes as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Mildred graduated from Ball Creek School, Burnsville, NC in May 1942 and attended Blanton's Business College in Asheville, NC. During World War II, all her brothers joined the war effort and Mildred operated the family general store located at the mouth of Indian Creek. In 1949, Mildred married JB Anders. Mildred and JB lived for a short time in Yancey County until they bought a farm in Madison County near Mars Hill, NC. There they raised their five children.

Our mother Mildred was born during the Great Depression and learned from her parents how to grow, can and preserve food to survive. She learned from them how to sew her own clothes, to farm and work hard. She and our dad taught us children those lessons. Mama often told us that when she was growing up everyone was poor and stock markets crashes didn't mean anything to them. Families and communities just tried to help each other and get by. Throughout her life, mama did just that. She often sent food or home remedies to her neighbors and family. She cooked for the sick and sent food to the houses of neighbors who had lost loved ones. She made everyone who came to the farm welcome with food and kindness. She taught Sunday school for several years at Hamburg Baptist Church. She was a member of Paint Fork Baptist Church and helped in cleaning the church and in preparing meals for bereaved families. For years she was on the Boards of/or volunteered numerous hours for several non-profits: GICCA, FOMCA and the ABA. She assisted in community fundraisers and rabies and well animal clinics. She taught local girls' groups how to make her fabulous fried apple pies from scratch, and spoke to them about the significance of their Appalachian heritage. Mama taught her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren that love, compassion, honesty, joy and an unshakable faith in God are the most powerful forces in the world. Most importantly, she taught us that God is still performing miracles and gave us rock solid examples of those in her and our dad's lives.

Mildred England Anders was a loving, amazing, dedicated, Christ believing, inquisitive, interesting, funny, compassionate human being who quietly went about making the world around her a better place. No five children could ever have been more privileged to have been given such a mother. Mama liked to leave notes for us kids when we had to travel for work or return to our homes after visiting her and dad. One favorite was "Love you, already miss you, Mom." Well mom, love you, already miss you, your children.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 1:00 pm in J.B. Anders Family Cemetery on Metcalf Creek Loop, Mars Hill. Reverend Bobby Sprinkle will officiate.

In lieu of flowers the family requests you make a memorial donation to your favorite charity.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.