Obituary of Mildred Hazel Pugh

Mildred Hazel Beck Pugh (Midge) passed away quietly the evening of August 23, 2021, with her sons and a niece by her side. She was 79. Surviving are her two sons: Gregory Michael Pugh and Brian Keith Pugh (Sasha Diane Lay), one sister, Emogene Beck Mitchell, and grandchildren Benjamin Joseph McMillan-Pugh, Michael Daniel McMillan-Pugh, and Halle Feryn Pugh. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Bennie Earl Pugh, her parents A.D. and Hazel Spence, a brother Winston Douglas Beck and a sister Evelyn Inez White. Midge was born on a Friday…. but certainly not last Friday. The date was June 26, 1942, in Enon, Florida. She learned how to be resourceful at an early age simply because it was necessary to do so. Her humble upbringing led her to perform odd jobs including time in the cotton fields to help make ends meet. During high school she met Bennie Earl Pugh at a church function. Bennie returned home that evening and announced to his mother, “tonight I met the girl I’m going to marry.” They married July 24, 1959, despite her father’s best efforts to keep them apart. It seems A.D. did not want to lose his ‘cook’. Bennie and Midge embarked on a life journey that embraced travel, service, and truly enjoying one another’s company. They were stationed together at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where they served the US Army (Midge always said Army wives are in the military too!). While in Texas, they welcomed Mike into the world. Following the Army, they returned to the Florida Panhandle and welcomed Keith into the family. After a four-year stint in Jacksonville, Florida, they moved to Thomasville, NC which would be “home” for the rest of their lives. In their spare time, they visited National and State Parks with their family and friends. They traveled all over North Carolina, the United States and foreign countries advancing the work of the Lions Club. They enjoyed bowling, golf, square dancing, playing games and entertaining friends. But importantly, they did all these things together. Midge spent considerable time being involved and giving back to her community. She was active and engaged in the ministries of Zion United Church of Christ, she worked with Hospice of the Piedmont, she served Meals on Wheels, she was an avid collector of drink can tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Furthermore, she served as Queen Mum for the Classy Lassies Red Hat Society embracing the ideal of being a playful, energetic, and spirited woman. Perhaps she will best be remembered for hosting the annual Christmas morning pancake breakfast for the Midway Forest neighborhood with Bennie. Her boys will always remember her for the life lessons she taught, including love of God, tenacity, respect for self, taking care of others, and doing what is right. Finally, it was always ill-advised to tell Midge that she couldn’t accomplish something. She would accept the challenge and that would make her that much more determined to do it! Ask the ladies on her Odd Balls bowling team in the Wednesday morning league, or the ladies she played golf with at Colonial Country Club or the ladies in her card club…. they’ll tell you the same. Midge was a tough competitor who always played by the rules. She did not cut corners. She always did the right things, the right way, for the right reasons. Midge’s life will be celebrated as she wanted, with no fanfare in a simple graveside service on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Oliver Pugh Cemetery in Molino, Florida. Midge leaves a wonderful legacy of faith, hope, love, and helping others. She may have been small in stature, but she left an immeasurable impact. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to any number of organizations she supported: Ronald McDonald House Charities; Zion United Church of Christ, Thomasville, NC; Make-A-Wish of Central and Western North Carolina; Hospice of the Piedmont, High Point, NC; and the North Carolina Lions Foundation.