Mildred Strickland Peppers, a God fearing and deeply devoted wife, mother, sister and friend, met her bridegroom on November 7, 2016.

Mildred was born on June 6, 1948 to the late Samuel and Frances Strickland. Educated in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Public School System and graduated from Albert H. Anderson High School in 1968. Mildred attended Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) where she received her B.S. in History. While at WSSU, she pledged Zeta Phi Beta Sorority where she became affectionately known as "Skinner". On the yard, she also met her "diamond", the late Ronnie Carl "Pepp" Peppers.

The Skinner and Pepp union produced three beautiful girls, Frances Valencia, Blanche Yvonne and Joneice Conchetta. Out of this love grew the marriages of Blanche to Captain Darren A. Sawyer, United States Navy, Retired and Joneice to Will L. Pledger. After 1994, Skinner and Pepp became proud grandparents with the birth of four grandchildren Xavier and Alexander Sawyer and Jaden and Carrington Pledger. Mildred was blessed again in 2010, with her only grand dog, Dallas.

Mildred, an educator at heart dedicated nearly 29 years of her life as a teacher at Newton-Conover Junior High School (Hickory, NC) and at Hanes, North Forsyth and Glenn High Schools (W-S, NC). Mildred retired in 2001.

Her calling was teaching and she was very active at her home church, Emmanuel Baptist for over 40 years, where she served as a Deacon, Deaconess, Missionary, and she was a teacher for the New Members Class, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Spreading the gospel beyond the walls of Emmanuel, she wrote the Sunday School lesson for The Chronicle for over 17 years.

Her heavenly reward leaves cherished memories for her girls; sons-in-law; grandchildren; sisters, Maria Strickland and Suzette S. (Joel) Willis; sisters-in-law, Rugina Peppers and Linda Peppers; brother-in-law, James (Belinda) Peppers; along five nieces; one nephew; and a host of other loved ones and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 1:00pm on Saturday at the Church.