The Rev. Mildred Board Grubbs

The Rev. Mildred Grubbs

Tupelo- The Rev. Mildred Board Grubbs, 2800 West Main Street, Tupelo, Mississippi died Saturday, November 11, 2023. She was born November 18, 1917, in rural Cascade, Iowa to Leroy E. and Bertha Fober Board and was married to William L. Grubbs on September 2, 1945.

She received her B.A. Degree from the University of Dubuque, Iowa, her M.A. Degree in Christian Education from McCormick Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois and her Master of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. She was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in 1964, one of the first women to become a minister of the United Presbyterian Church (USA).

Before her ordination, she served churches in Mississippi, Arizona, and Indiana as Director of Christian Education. She held an executive position with the Board of Christian Education of the United Presbyterian Church with an office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from which she traveled eleven states developing and training lay leadership of local churches. She was again called to executive leadership, and was the first woman to hold a position in the denomination’s personnel service. She was also the associate executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Western New York with offices in Buffalo.

As the first installed woman pastor in East Iowa Presbytery, she was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Blairstown for ten years. During these years, she was elected moderator of the presbytery and chaired several of its major committees. After her retirement, she led several churches of the presbytery as interim pastor.

She is survived by a second cousin, Darlene Matthes (Charles) of Wadena, Minnesota; nephews, Dr. Ray Grubbs of Ridgeland, Harold Grubbs (Lynn) of Brinkley, Arkansas, David Grubbs (Laura) of Ashland, Dennis Grubbs (Emily) of Shannon, Mike Grubbs (Cathy) of Broomall, Pennsylvania, and Mark Grubbs (Elizabeth) of Saltillo; nieces, June Briggs (Ken) of Blue Springs, Mollye Cash of Rome, Georgia, and Kay Whitehead of Belden.

Preceding her in death was her husband, William L. Grubbs; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Board; sister, Mrs. Robert E. Hill, Jr.; and niece, Pamela Hill Griffith.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 18, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church, Tupelo with The Rev. Dr. Ron Richardson and The Rev. Dr. Taylor Todd officiating. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. until service time in McFadden Hall of First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at Cascade Cemetery in Cascade, Iowa. Pegues Funeral Directors is in Charge of the Arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 400 West Jefferson Street, Tupelo, MS 38804.

Expressions of sympathy and fond memories may be made at PeguesFuneralHome.com.