Fred Henry Mills, Sr.

Breaux Bridge - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 3, 2007, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge, for Fred Henry Mills, Sr., 83, who passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at St. Martin Hospital in Breaux Bridge. Entombment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Rev. Ed Degeyter , will conduct the services. Readers will be Karen McFaul and Christine Mills. Gift bearers will be Whitney and Ainsley Mills. Fred graduated from Breaux Bridge High School in 1941. He then attended LSU from September 9, 1941 until March 4, 1944 when he was withdrawn by the Army for service in World War II. He was honorably discharged on March 17, 1946. He returned to LSU on September 16, 1946 and graduated on May 29, 1948, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Agriculture. Fred then joined his father and brother in their family business, Henry J. Mills Company. Fred married his true love Mary Alice Webb on February 14, 1951. Fred was appointed to the Board of Directors of Farmers Merchants Bank on February 10, 1961 and retired as vice chairman on June 8, 2001. Fred began his political career as City Councilman in 1965 and continued until 1969. On July 1, 1969 he was sworn in as Mayor of Breaux Bridge until 1977. In 1971, Fred along with other city leaders had a vision to acquire property from Andrew Hardy which is now known as "Parc Hardy" to provide a recreational facility for the youth of Breaux Bridge and a facility to host the Crawfish Festival festivities. Years later Fred was honored by the Breaux Bridge Mayor Vance Theriot and City Council by naming Mills Avenue in his honor after many years of public service. Fred served as Chairman for the Msgr. P.A. Borel Center Building Committee. He also served as Trustee of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife of 54 years , Mary Alice Webb Mills of Breaux Bridge; his sons, Fred H. Mills Jr. and his wife, Debbie of Breaux Bridge and Henry "Hank" J. Mills II and his wife, Shawn of Baton Rouge; his grandchildren, Kelly Mills, Keegan Mills, Whitney Mills and Ainsley Mills all of Baton Rouge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry J. Mills and Edita Ledoux Mills; his brother, A.C. Mills; his sister, Marian Mills Hoffman. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2007 and continue at 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Monday, December 3, 2007. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Pallbearers will be Kelly Mills, Keegan Mills, Dr. Warren Degatur, Dr. Gordon Mills, Nolan LeBlanc, Robert Laville, Vance Theriot and Burton Dupuis Honorary pallbearers will be the Board of Directors of Farmers Merchants Bank & Trust and Aldon Webb. The extraordinary and compassionate care given to Fred by Dr. Warren Degatur, the entire staff of St. Martin Hospital, Hospice of Acadiana and all his caregivers is greatly appreciated. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to, The Msgr. P.A. Borel Center Building Fund, 219 East Bridge Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge is in charge of arrangements.