Mildred was born on 7-15-1930 in Wayne County, Mississippi. Her parents are the late James Mallard and Thelma Henrietta Craven Griffith. Mildred has one sister, Mary Nell Griffith Gieger. Mildred and her family lived in several places and she attended schools wherever her family was living at the time. Mildred was around 15 years old when she was saved and baptized in Whistler, Alabama. At 16 years old, her family moved from Mobile, Alabama to Newton, Mississippi and Mildred was going into her junior year of high school at Newton High. One Sunday Mildred was attending a church service at Liberty Baptist Church when she met the love of her life, Marvis Zelma "Monkey" Stroud. After dating for nine months, they were married in Newton by Bro. Sizemore on 12-21-1946 in Mildred's parents' home with both sides of their parents attending, along with other family members and a few close friends. At Monkey's death on 8-3-2009 they were married 62 years.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 1:00PM until 2:00PM at Oakland Grove Baptist Church in 2475 Pleasant Grove Rd, Laurel, Mississippi. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 2:00PM at Oakland Grove Baptist Church in Laurel, Mississippi. Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Laurel, Mississippi. Bro. Chris Hodge and Bro. Alex Hodge will officiate. Ellisville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 601-477-3797.

Mildred dropped out of school after she and Monkey were married and since she was not one to start something and never finish it, at 25 years old Mildred traveled to USM in Hattiesburg and got her GED certificate. She always believed you finish what you start.

Mildred loved being a wife, mother of three, grandmother to six, great grandmother to 12 and great-great grandmother to six children. Her pride and joy were in the raising their three children, Beverly Evan, Marvis Randal and Conley Ratrelle. In 1957 they purchased land and their house in the Byrd community at the end of Stroud Road, that was later named after them. Mildred was 'the Family Matriarch' where she was called "Nanny" by her grands and greats and "Mil-Mil" by most of her nieces and nephews. Mildred was the last remaining member of the Stroud family, whom she loved dearly.

Mildred was a true Christian country lady. She lived her life being a good example serving God and her family. She saw the need for her family to attend church regularly. She also saw the need to grow a garden, have chickens and have a milk cow. During her life time she drew water out of a well, washed clothes on a rub board and later in a ringer-type washing machine. She cooked on a wood stove, raised and killed hogs and smoked their meat. She canned food in jars and made jams and jellies for them to eat. She would bleach chicken feed sacks and fertilizer sacks to make their clothes, house curtains and bed sheets.

Mildred also had various outside-the-home jobs when it was needed. She worked at the 5 & 10 Store in Texas City, worked in clothing sales at Eagle & Levine's in Newton and sold Avon and Stanley products. Mildred worked at Reliance Shirt Factory. She was a sales clerk at Lott's Furniture Store and was the professional photographer for Olan Mills and Sears Portraits for many years. Mildred also enjoyed reading and crocheting. She made many, many dollies and gave them as gifts. She enjoyed taking scraped material, piecing and quilting her family members handmade quilts. She also enjoyed listening to gospel music.

Mildred's most important accomplishment was her personal salvation and her love for God. She was a devoted and a faithful member of Oakland Grove Baptist Church. She loved her family and others by witnessing and 'preaching' about her Lord. Mildred taught the Bible during Sunday school classes, taught children during VBS, was an active member of the WMU and she served on many church committees. In 1977 Mildred was also instrumental in organizing the Stroud Reunions held every year until Covid in 2019. Mildred Beatrice Griffith Stroud was an extraordinary strong Christian woman who set a good example for her family and others to live by. There is no other like her. Mildred will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved her.