Surrounded by her loving family, MILDRED SMITH HARDING died on Sunday afternoon, May 27, 2018 at the Maryview Nursing Facility in Suffolk. She was born September 15, 1928 to parents Octavious and Hattie Powell Smith and was raised and educated in Portsmouth, VA. She was a graduate of I. C. Norcom High School and attended Norfolk Division of Virginia State College. She later enrolled in certification classes for Intrinsic Aircraft Instruments at the Norfolk Vocational Technical Center, becoming the First Woman to hold the position of Aircraft Instrument Mechanic at the Naval Air Station.
She was married for 55 years to her childhood sweetheart, Arthur McKinley Harding, Sr. They had 9 children and raised them in a loving and caring home where education was a top priority.
Mrs. Harding was a Life Member and Church Mother of Zion Bethel United Church of Christ where she actively supported and attended church activities until her recent illness.
She was a member of the Sassy Steppers Red Hatters group and the Portsmouth Senior Station activities where she participated daily in aerobics, the choir, line dancing and traveled with the participants to the African American Museum, various musicals and plays and just enjoyed life. She was selected to be the UMOJA Festival Queen in 2014, a cherished moment for her and her family.
Her parents, husband, siblings (Preston, Calvin and Virginia) preceded her in death, as well as her 3 sons (Eric, Randall and Preston). She loved them each and has now joined them in the Heavenly Choir.
Left to cherish her memory and legacy are her 6 children: Valerie Brown (James); Lena Williams; Arthur Harding, Jr. (Marcella); Vanginette Benton (Michael); Karen Gulley (La Marr) and Crystal Patillo (Charles); 22 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; Daughters-in-law Annie Harding and Millicent Harding, cousins, nieces and nephews and extended family, neighbors and friends.