Rev. Mildred Board Grubbs

Rev. Mildred Board Grubbs

Tupelo, Mississippi

Rev. Mildred Board Grubbs, 105, of Tupelo, Mississippi, formerly of Cascade, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2023. Graveside Service: 9:30 a.m., May 3, 2024, Cascade Cemetery, Cascade, Iowa. Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., May 3, 2024, First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon, Iowa, with time for food and fellowship to follow.

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); nephews, Dr. Ray Grubbs, Harold Grubbs (Lynn) of Brinkley, Arkansas, David Grubbs (Laura) of Ashland, Dennis Grubbs (Emily) of Shannon, Mike Grubbs (Cathy), and Mark Grubbs (Elizabeth); nieces, June Briggs (Ken), Mollye Cash, Georgia, and Kay Whitehead.

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

Please share your support and memories with Mildred’s family on her Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.