Mamie Edith Mills Carpenter, 89, of Magnolia passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at Aston Court in McComb.  She was born March 26, 1934 at her parent's Cherokee Ranch near Delombre in Jackson, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, the second of eight children born to Thomas Lilley Mills, Jr. and Rotha Hyner Mills. She graduated from Zachary High School and attended Louisiana State University majoring in Animal Science.

When younger, Edith enjoyed raising and showing her 4-H steers, winning several trips to Chicago, IL to show her cattle. She broke and trained many horses for herself and her family, and had numerous awards to show for her efforts. After marrying, she became a farmer and rancher who loved raising, riding, and showing Quarter Horses and Paints; and raising Catahoula puppies, kittens, chickens, and bottle calves on her family's Rodeo Ranch in Summit from 1965 to 1996, and then in Magnolia to the present. She worked many years at several local cattle auctions as a ticket writer.

Mrs. Carpenter is preceded in death by her husband of 65 plus years, Cheley Frank Carpenter, Sr.; her parents; two brothers, Tom Mills and Lyne Mills; and a sister, Julie Mills Abraham.

Survivors include four children - Cheley Carpenter, Jr. (Alice) of Poplarville, MS; Rhonda Chisholm of Magnolia, Naomi Smith of Magnolia, Leitha McCullough (John) of Richton, MS; a stepdaughter, Ellen Sessions of Zachary, LA; 8 grandchildren - Peyton Cavin (Melissa) of Natchez; Chance Cavin (Lindsay) of Madison; Shawn Carpenter of Picayune; Bailey, Rachel and Zach (Carly) Carpenter of Poplarville; Bryan and Ryan Chisholm of Magnolia; 3 great-grandchildren – Lauren and Mallory Cavin of Madison, and Colton Cavin of Natchez; a brother, Clyde Mills (Kaye); 3 sisters, Rotha Cook, Jeannette Parnell, and Lulie Mills; a special pet , Dolly; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Services will be held at Tangipahoa Baptist Church, 7555 Thompson Rd, Summit, MS on Monday, January 29, 2024.  Visitation will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am with services to follow.  Burial will be  at the Young Family Cemetery in Zachary (Plains), Louisiana. Bro. Mike Morris and Bro. Bryan Chisholm will officiate the service. Pallbearers will be her son-in-law and her grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Mrs. Edith's memory to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, or the American Cancer Society.