Our family lost our wonderful Aunt Millie on December 31, 2020. Mildred Lucille Pou was such a bigger than life personality. Her intelligence, wit, and jest for life was contagious, and everyone around her knew she was determined to accomplish great things.
Millie was born on May 16, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Gertrude Moreland Pou and Dr. John Gray Pou. She graduated from Byrd High School but was too adventurous to finish college. When Millie was in her twenties, she came to the conclusion that she wanted to spread her wings and see the world. Her reasoning was, "I might as well let the government pay for it." So she took the Civil Service exam and passed with honors. Her assignment was a two-year stint with the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Japan. She absolutely loved those years that provided new experiences and relationships that would last a lifetime. When the time was up and she had to leave Japan, she took a long route accompanied by her new best friend, Phyllis Bothwell. They visited Hong Kong, Macao, Manila, Thailand, Egypt, Lebanon, the Holy Land, India, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, and England. She commented, "The ultimate highlight of the entire trip was visiting the Holy Land………….walking the paths Jesus had walked, seeing the river where John the Baptist baptized Him, following 'The Way of the Cross' to Golgotha, and finally entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which of course was erected over the place of Christ's burial and resurrection. As I knelt to pray and to thank God for His most precious gift to the world, I experienced so many different emotions….from anger to sorrow, and finally jubilation. Yes, this was indeed the biggest thrill, probably not just of the trip, but probably of my life."
Millie came home to Shreveport for a short while but this was too tame for her. Where could she go that was fast paced and rewarding? New York! She landed a job (after 39 girls had interviewed for it and been turned down) working as social secretary to well known philanthropist, William Burden, who served on the boards of CBS; Lockheed Aircraft; Columbia University; New York Hospital; the Smithsonian Instituaion; the Museum of Modern Art (President); the Institute for Defense Analyses (Chairman); a think tank in Washington; the Council on Foreign Relations; and he was also active in politics. So for the next twenty-five years, Millie poured her life into this job and also Mr. Burden's family, being asked many times to put on a myriad of hats which she did excellently.
Retirement came as age fifty-five when she moved back to Shreveport and bought a beautiful home to settle down and enjoy life. Even when she could quit moving at the fast pace she was used to in New York, she still ran on full steam wherever she went. It is an absolute miracle she didn't have a wreck since she also drove like a New York taxi driver! She had to have her garage repaired many times because she would barrel into it so fast that she hit the wall!
Millie never married so didn't have any children. Her sister's daughter, Heloise, was closest to her. When Heloise was a baby, Millie tried to buy her! Their relationship was always close. Heloise remembers riding in Millie's yellow convertible when she was a small child. They went many places together including on fond memory of driving downtown to the Strand Theater to watch a new movie, Snow White. When Millie made her decision to go to Japan, Heloise was ten, and this was probably the first devastating experience she ever had. It was hard for Heloise to imagine a world without Millie constantly in it. Years later when Millie moved back to Shreveport after retirement, that relationship had not changed. Heloise became Millie's "go to" girl for almost everything.
Dementia began to slowly show up. After years of a downhill slope, Millie's doctor said she needed to live out her life in a place that would be safe for her and for the people around her. The idea of a nursing home was repugnant to Heloise who had to make this difficult decision. But God intervened when she
learned about The Chateaus Memory Care facility. There were some hard adjustments but after time, Millie settled in her mind that this was her home and was actually happy there. The staff, administrator, and head of the Montclaire/Chateau were absolutely wonderful, always willing to give 100% to Millie's best interest be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual.
The last memory Heloise had of Millie was so sweet. She had recorded many of Millie's favorite music and bought headphones for her to listen to it. Music is amazing as it transends physical and mental limitations and goes straight to the heart. Millie closed her eyes and kept time with the beat with her hand on the recliner she was lying back in. With a smile on her face, it was obvious she was enjoying this short reprieve. Heloise never dreamed this would be the last time she would see her beloved Millie but it was nevertheless a poignant memory.
Surviving relatives include nieces and nephews John Pou and wife, Missy, Anne Ridley and husband, Knox; David Pou and wife, Jan; Robert Pou and wife, Barbara; Bill Pou and wife, Angel; Pete Young and wife, Pat; Suzanne Ware; Heloise Tompkins and husband, Thomas; and Arthur Shuey III. There are many more cousins and friends too numerous to list here.
Millie quietly passed into heaven on Thursday morning, the last day of the year. She is reunited with all her family who went before her: her mother and father, her sisters, Johnette Pou Young, Helen Pou Turner, and brother, Dr. Jack Pou. She is probably going her usual fast pace, finding new adventures, and smiling that wonderful smile to everyone she meets. We will miss you, Aunt Millie.