Mildred I. Safford

Mildred Ingram (Akers) Safford, 89, of Mexico, died at 12:55 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at Kings Daughters in Mexico.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Wednesday, Feb. 18th, at Pickering Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Stott officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 11 until service time. Burial will be in Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal.

Mildred was born on June 8, 1925, in Hannibal, the daughter of Russell and Macie (Ingram) Akers.

Mildred graduated from Hannibal High School in 1943 with Honors. She then attended Hannibal Lagrange College (now University) 1943-1944, and then attended Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman University) and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in education in 1947.

She grew up in Hannibal along with two sisters, Myrlene and Sandra. She attended Calvary Baptist church and accepted Christ as her savior and was baptized at 12 years of age. She was also later again baptized in the Jordan River in Israel during a trip there in 1992. She regularly attended Fifth Street Baptist Church in Hannibal from 1937-1946. On June 16, 1946, in Moberly, she married Carl A. Safford. They attended Moberly Baptist Church from 1947-1953, and later the Dutch Reformed Church of America in Oskaloosa, IA from 1955-1958. After moving to Mexico they attended First Baptist Church 1958-1961, and First Christian Church, 1963-1990, and then were members of First Baptist from 1991 to present.

Mildred and Carl had four children; Cathy Lee, Daniel Anthony, Steve Akers, and Monte Carl. They resided with their children in Moberly, Hannibal, and Oskaloosa where Carl managed Safford Shoe Stores. They finally settled permanently in Mexico in 1958 and they owned and managed the Safford and Family Shoe stores.

She taught Sunday school for a number of years, attending church camps as a counselor, including Camp Okkitippi near Hannibal, and Quiver Rover State Park - church camp, near Troy, MO. She also worked 12 years as a camp counselor for girls camp at Camp Miniwanca, American Youth Foundation at Stony Lake Michigan. Mildred enjoyed working with kids in a counselor capacity and her years at Camp Miniwanca as a counselor for girls was a highlight of her life. She had also served as a Cub Scout leader for several years.

Mildred was a member of Mexico Chapter of the DAR, Helping Hands Circle at Kings Daughters, HD chapter of PEO, Gilman Guild, W.M.U. and Chautauqua Reading Circle.

She taught in Mexico Public Schools for 17 years as a fourth and fifth grade teacher, and for seven years as a substitute. She was a member of the Teachers Honorary Society of Delta Kappa Gama, Beta Chapter and the Mexico Retired Teachers Association.

Survivors include three sons, Dan Safford, Steve Safford, and Monte Safford and wife Ellen, all of Mexico; six grandchildren, Kara, Austin, Chase, Trisha, Travis, and Danielle; seven great grandchildren, Shelbi, Charles, Alex, Chloe, Mila, Greta, and Elijah; and one great great granddaughter, Layla; one sister, Sandra Lee Huggins, Ft. Smith, Ark.; nieces and nephews, Greg Huggins, Chris Carter, and Pam Huggins, all of Ft. Smith, Carla (Mason) Wortham of Alaska, Lynn Mason, of Florida, and Jeff Mason, of Georgia.

She was preceded in death by her husband Carl in 2012, her parents, one sister Myrlene Akers Mason, and her oldest daughter Cathy Lee Safford of cancer in 2011 at the age of 63. The loss of Cathy was very difficult for Mildred and the family.

Her children will remember her as a loving and dedicated mother and will miss her greatly and will remember the home she provided as a place where Christian faith was shared with others.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to First Baptist Church of Mexico. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.