Mary Louise Mullins Elkins was born September 17, 1912 on Lick Fork of Beefhide in Pike County, KY, to the late Tandy Wilson and Sabra Ethel (Greer) Mullins.  On her hundredth and fourth birthday, the city of Wurtland presented her with a key to the city.  On May 10th she used the key that God gave her in 1938 to enter Paradise when she departed this life at her home in Wurtland, KY, surrounded by her family, making her stay here on earth 104 years, 7 months and 23 days.  She is now at rest in the Paradise of God where all is peace, joy and love.

She married William Creighton Elkins on August 26, 1935, at Clintwood, VA and they spent 60 blessed years together until his death, December 10, 1995.  To this union was born, 7 sons; Thomas Alvin, Harold David (wife Mandy), John Morgan (wife Hazel), Billy Wilson (wife Patsy), Gary Creighton (wife Glenda), Gordon Bennett, Dennis Blakey (wife Nelvia); and 2 daughters; Patricia M Elkins and Wilma Jean Montjoy.  Three sons; Thomas Alvin, Harold David and Gordon Bennett preceded her in death.  Mother also had 29 grandchildren (18 grandsons and 11 granddaughters, all but one who survives.  She also had 126 great and great-great grandchildren, all of who survive except three.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by all of her brothers (Samuel, John Morgan, Roby, Roy, Thomas Alvin and Malloy Mullins) and sisters (Maggie Tackett, Flora Burke, Lexie Thompson, and Ada Mullins who died in infancy.

Mother joined the Old Regular Baptist Church at a cemetery meeting on the hill just down the creek from where the current Pilgrim Rest Church is today, the first weekend in September, 1939.  She was baptized by Elder Ballard Baker at the Bethel Church and took her membership to the Pilgrim Rest Church on Beefhide.  She remained a member until a year or so after they moved to Wurtland.  In 1977, she brought her letter to the Little Rosa Church in the Philadelphia Association and remained a faithful member until her death.  Daddy was ordained as a Deacon and they served the churches for many years. She personified the Love of Christ in her life and showed abundant love to everyone, loving as the Bible commands in 1 John 3:18 “My little children, lest us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”  She always let her loving kindness show the world who she served.

Mother loved gardening, canning and taking care of her family.  She loved having her family and friends come and visit her and enjoyed every phone call.  As soon as you walked in, she wanted you to have something to eat or drink and before you left.  Most of all she enjoyed attending church and visiting with her brothers and sisters in Christ.  She never let anything stop her from attending church and worshipping God.  Mother endured many hardships in her life but always trusted in Jesus who always brought her through.

Mother enjoyed good health and continued to attend church every Sunday as long as she was able.  She fell in her home the summer before she turned 98.  From then until her death, her children stayed with Mother and took care of her.  The past couple of years Mother was not able to be out much but still talked about wanting to go to church up until her last weekend.  After her fall, Mother thought she lost her usefulness, but she never lost her loving spirit.  She counted it all joy and served God fully in everything she did.  She was a wonderful Christian example for everyone to follow. 

Children, family and friends, I hope you will take heed to the great light she let shine before you.  Her loving voice has now been silenced but her sweet memories will linger on for the rest of your lives.  Like David said when he lost his son, “he cannot come to me but I can go to him”, we can be with her again but we will have to make the same preparation she made.  God is no respecter of person but is free to all of them who come to Him in faith believing.  Please don’t miss out on what’s important but rather choose the good part.  Seek Jesus while you have life and opportunity so you can spend eternity with her in Heaven.

Visitation will be at the Philadelphia Association Building, 5th Ave and Riverside Dr, Worthington, KY,  from 5:00 pm on Friday until the funeral at 1 pm on Sunday with nightly services at 7:00 pm.  Burial will follow at the Siloam Cemetery at South Shore, KY.  In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to the Little Rosa Church, 44 Fieldstone Ct, Greenup, KY 41144.

Wright’s Funeral Home in Greenup is in charge of the arrangements.

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