Mildred Jobson

Mildred Jobson, was born in McConnels, Alabama, on February 19, 1913.  She was the daughter of James Simpson and Maude Gertrude (Boswell) Norris.  On January 10, 1914, Mildred was preceded in death by her mother.  She soon moved in with her maternal grandparents who raised her for a short time.  Several years later Mildred returned to live with her father and aunt Alabama Belle Norris, “Aunt Bam”.  Aunt Bam was like a mother to Mildred attending to her every need.
 
MIldred attended first through third grade at the old Freeman home.  Mildred later attended Tuscaloosa County High School, where she graduated.  During her time in high school she received honors, president of the class, valedictorian and crowned the May Queen.  Mildred also played basketball during her time in high school. 
 
Following high school, after graduating at the age of 16, Miss Norris attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and graduated with a bachelors in education.  During her time in college she was the class mate to the famous Bear Bryant.  In her own her words “The Bear was a character”.  Mildred was later initiated into the Theta Upsilon Sorority.  During her senior year of college, Mildred fell head over heels for a tall, curly black haired boy- Joe Jobson.  Following a three month courtship the two were united in marriage at 4:00 o’clock on Saturday, January 7, 1933.  Following graduation from the University of Alabama, Mildred and Joe moved to Oxford, Alabama.  During this time Mildred received her first teaching job at the local elementary school.  Several years later Mildred and Joe moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and then later returned to Northport.  Joe began working with Mildred’s father at the cotton gin.  Mildred later began teaching in Daphne while Joe was working at the shipyard in Chickasaw, Alabama.  Joe was drafted during World War II, and they moved to New Jersey.  After the war ended, Mildred and Joe started a family and returned to Northport.
 
Mildred was the typical southern woman and loved being a wife, mother, daughter, and friend.  Mildred was a member of the Potpourri Club.  The group was making silk arrangements one day and happened to get noticed by a lady from the White House.  Several weeks later the group was contacted by the White House to make some arrangements for Christmas, and Mildred was able to help with that project.  Mildred and Joe were very active in the community of Northport.   Their goal was to create a place for children to play, keeping them off the streets. They were instrumental in helping build the Northport Community Center, as well as the local hospital, which was called People’s Hospital at the time, now known as Northport DCH. 
 
Following the death of Joe in 1989, Mildred remained in Northport for two years.  At that time she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be closer to her daughter, Ann.  That was a wonderful time for Mildred moving to Tulsa, because that allowed her to go and participate with her Oklahoma grandchildren in their activities.  The times when Mildred would return to Alabama she loved to make an excuse to have a bridge party.  She would go out to eat, and everyone would entertain her as if she were royalty.  Mildred was a part of the Northport Community for seventy five years.  Fox News, The Tulsa World, Northport Gazette and Bill O’Reilly were a major part of Mildred’s information source.  She also loved to read anything, especially “those Danielle Steel love stories”.  Mildred watched every Alabama football game, One Life to Live and General Hospital, while listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio.  Westerns were also a part of her of viewing pleasure, especially Chuck Norris. She loved her birds, outdoors and in her room.
 
Mildred was selected as one of “Alabama’s Gracious Ladies”.  She taught school in Calhoun, Baldwin and Tuscaloosa Counties.  Mildred was a member of the Northport Baptist Church, WMU, Charter member and First President of the Northport Southern Culture Club.  She was active in PTA, Northport Community Center and many other community affairs.  She was a popular book reviewer, loved to grow Iris, and was a fabulous cook.  Mildred also held memberships with the Pilot Club, the PP Hobby Club and multiple bridge Clubs.  Mimi as she was also known, loved to tell jokes and had a smile on her face most of the time.  Upon reaching the status as a Centurion, Mimi became a member of the Northeast Active Timers, Inc. (OK), and a Centennial Member of the Northport Hall of Citizens.
Mimi has been quoted:  “I have lived a full life, complete with memories of stories dating back at least 152 years and parts of three centuries.  I have always loved God, and my family. I can’t express the joy I have experienced in this life.” She wrote a book called “Tea Time with Mimi”, to surprise her family. It was the story of her life, according to the World Wars. She encourages everyone to document life stories of the elders in your family, before it’s too late.
 
 
Survivors are her two children Joseph David Josbson III and his wife Nini of Northport, Alabama, Ann Jobson Copple of Cleveland, Oklahoma; foreign exchange student Ramon Rosell Y Blanich of Puigcerda, Spain, ten grandchildren Tia Jobson Hathorne and her husband Carl, Jo Jobson Scarbrough and her husband Wes, Sig Copple and his wife Lindsay, Jeni Copple, Donna Copple Mathews and her husband Skip, Julie Copple Kraft and her husband Randy, Bret David Copple, Mary Margaret Scalici and her husband John, William Henry Hawkins and his wife Anna, Earnest Matthew Hawkins and his wife Anna, eighteen great grandchildren, John Wesley Scarbrough, Piper Ann Harthorne, Margaret Grace Reed Hawkins, Jadelyn Rose Hawkins, John Partlow Scalici, Jay Davis Scarbrough, Joseph Davis Hathorne, Ruby Sage Hawkins, Caroline Elizabeth Hawkins, Maria Copple, Violet Copple, Penelope Copple, Ben Mathews, Mark Mathews, James Mathews, David Kraft, Sarah Kraft, Erin Kraft one great great granddaughter Macy Kate Mathews, and numerous other relatives and friends that will mourn her passing.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, February 28, 2015, at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel, with visitation beginning at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow in the Sunset Brown-Service Memorial Park Cemetery, which was formerly the family farm. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in memory of Mildred to the Hospice of Green Country at 1120 South Boston Ave. Suite 200, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements were made by Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Cleveland, Oklahoma.