On October 16, 2020, LaVerne Austin McMillan, self-proclaimed and mutually agreed upon "Most Blessed Woman in the World" went to be with her Lord.  This is a joyous Homecoming as LaVerne, fondly known as Bern, and her Heavenly Father have walked through life as one. He has blessed her abundantly and she, in turn, has honored Him through her service and by her example.

After graduating with a major in religion at Mars Hill College in the glorious mountains she held so dear, she began teaching Bible in Laurinburg, NC where she met her best friend, Annie Margaret "Monk" Martin who introduced her to Mullins, SC and the McMillan Family. After she and Russell McMillan were married in 1952, she began her lifelong service to the Mullins Presbyterian Church, where she served as Youth Director, Women of the Church president for years and president of the Pee Dee Presbytery for a term of four years. So much was accomplished under her leadership, including the growth of Camp Pee Dee in Bennettsville, SC and numerous service projects, both locally and internationally.

It was during these years that LaVerne raised her three girls, served as Girl Scout leader for troops 107 and 214, and taught at Rains Centenary Elementary School. She was and shall remain so special and so loved by the many people whose lives she helped to mold.

LaVerne, wife of the late George Russell McMillan of Mullins, SC and daughter of the late CC and Ruth Austin of Charlotte, NC leaves behind her daughters; Carolyn Dunn (David), Ann Smith (Kirby), and Betsy Boykin (Bill) all of Chapin, SC. She also leaves behind five grandchildren; Claudia Carbonell- Bensley (Matthew), Ashley Milbourne (Brian), Russell Smith (Ashley), Justin Boykin (Danielle), and Lauren Molony (Kevin) and ten great grandchildren; Caleb and Jordan Bensley, Colt and Brice Molony, Hannah and Harper Smith, Jake, Nora, and Maren Milbourne, and Olivia Boykin. She was predeceased by her brother, Gene Austin and leaves behind her sister, Barbara Ann Winters of Charlotte, NC; a brother-in-law, Neil McMillan (Cathy) and sisters-in-law, Nellie Austin of Denver, NC, Martha McMillan and Doris Ann McMillan of Mullins.

Funeral services will be held at the Mullins Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, October 20 at 2:00 p.m.  The family will receive friends at the rear of the sanctuary thirty minutes prior to the service. We respectfully request that you wear a mask and practice social distancing while in the sanctuary. A kind word in lieu of a hug or handshake will be greatly appreciated. The service will be virtual on the Mullins Presbyterian Church website for those who cannot attend. Following the service, the family will lay their mother to rest at McMillan Cemetery in Mullins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Mullins Presbyterian Church at P. O. Box 671, Mullins, South Carolina 29574.

An online guestbook is available at www.mearesfh.com .

LaVerne is in the care of Meares Funeral Home of Mullins.