June Ellen Flanagan Mills

June Ellen Flanagan Mills, 96, of Charleston, South Carolina, like Elvis, has left the building! On August 24, 2026, she set out on a new and exciting adventure into eternity. Her funeral service will be held on Monday, August 31, 2026, in Pinecrest Baptist Church, 1285 Ashley Hall Road, at 1:00 PM. The family will greet friends at the church from 12:00 PM until the time of service. Entombment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park where the family will gather for a private time of Remembrance at the graveside. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway, Charleston, SC.

Before leaving us, June stressed that her departure was not to be a time of sadness. As a strong Christian, she was ready and looking forward to this trip down the road, err, UP the road! Her attitude was that her leaving is not a permanent adieu or farewell, but just a "so long for now as we'll be together again...; well, some of us will, I'm not so sure about certain others!"

June was born March 6, 1930 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the daughter of the late Virginia June Dublin Flanagan and Clarence Mitchell Flanagan. This was a large family: In addition to June, there were 3 boys (Buddy, Willie and Clarence) and 2 girls (Jane and Ruth). And just so you know, this was an Irish family; now this may not be important to the reader, but it was to June, and since this is an account of her life and big event.., well, you get the picture. Anyway, during her early adolescent years, she lived with her parents in Vicksburg, and around the age of 12 or 13 and with her parents' permission, she moved to Charleston to live with her older sister and family, and she has lived in Charleston ever since. Although she did not serve in the military, she was a member of the WW II Generation, a very young member. Near the end of WW II AND while still in school AND with her parents' permission AND at the age of 15, yep 15 years old, she married Richard James Mills on May 27, 1945, while he was on leave from his US Navy destroyer stationed in the Pacific Ocean. A short time later, Richard returned to duty in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, and teenage newlywed June continued going to school. A few months later, WW II ended, and Richard was discharged from active military service. While he began a Civil Service career at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, June continued her schooling and in a role not anticipated when this marriage began, Richard signed her report cards as her "guardian", and he was her senior prom "date". When she graduated from Chicora High School, class of 1947, Richard was a proud husband, guardian, and date. According to June, "Nobody, I mean nobody, thought our marriage would last." Well, "nobody" was correct as their union eventually ended just over 70 years later, that's right, 70 years later when Richard passed away at age 92 in July 2015.

Three years after it began, this marriage produced its first of two children, a boy in 1948, and two years later, in 1950, a baby girl followed. During their kids' elementary school years, June and Richard were very actively involved in the PTA and other school activities. June served as Homeroom Mother for both of her children's classes, always making cupcakes, preparing decorations, etc. for the many birthdays and holidays that occurred during those elementary school years. She also helped by chaperoning school field trips, helping to organize and manage various elementary school fundraising projects, and decorating and manning festive booths at Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. As involved as she was with her children's school activities, the role that she relished was being a good housewife/homemaker. Picture the housewife mom characters on the wholesome TV shows "Leave It To Beaver" and "The Donna Reed Show" - Corny? Overly Sentimental? Maybe, but our June Mills was the real deal! She loved to cook and bake, and she was very good at it. During the era when "TV Dinners" were the rage and even in later years, she could be found in the kitchen wearing a favorite apron and cheerfully and lovingly preparing home-cooked meals, and she always had a hot supper on the table for the family to enjoy when Richard arrived home from work.

Even into the kids' Junior and High School years, and much to their annoyance and/or embarrassment, June developed and maintained friendships with various school principals and teachers. "Somehow" and often before they had even arrived home from school, June knew when her daughter had been cautioned about talking too much during class and when her son had been the class clown in Civics or some other class or had in fact cut school for a day at the beach.

As her children "matured" and became more independent, June decided to enter the workforce in the late 1960's/early 1970's. Even though she lacked recent workplace experience, one company took a chance and hired her based upon her interview and her many years of successfully running a household ("at home" management skills) and dealing successfully with often "difficult characters" (2 children! Both of whom, by the way, turned out to be the most wonderful adults!). The company that took that chance was the only employer that June worked for, and after many years, she eventually retired from American Mutual Insurance Company in 1993.

During her younger days, June was a very active Southern Baptist church member, serving in leadership positions in Sunday School, Training Union and in various youth ministries, and she has been a longtime member of Pinecrest Baptist Church in the West Ashley section of Charleston. As the years marched on, "parts" began to wear out, and June's activities had to be curtailed. Church activities and attendance became difficult, and she voluntarily gave up driving as her eyesight diminished. Even with these and other medical and age-related problems, her attitude remained amazingly positive, and as her husband Richard's health began to fail, she was still able to lovingly tend to his every need, and she protected and encouraged and nurtured and loved him as if he were the most important thing in her life, which indeed he was!

June had a good sense of humor, and she was often quite witty. She was the quintessential lady: Polite, prim and proper, hair and makeup always in place, apron on when baking or cooking, preferred dresses and skirts to slacks, etc. Now, this doesn't mean that she was a "saint." At times she could be somewhat feisty and stubborn, but she was never intentionally mean-spirited. Sometimes, she surprised you by enjoying entertainment that seems to be somewhat out of character for her. For example: Elvis Presley & Tom Jones concerts - it wasn't their singing that earned them their on-stage nicknames, "Elvis the Pelvis" and "The Welsh Tiger!" Professional wrestling on TV - REALLY?? Motorcycle speed events were particularly thrilling to her, especially the "Wall of Death" at county and state fairs. Perhaps it was because of such out-of-character surprises that Richard called her his "Wild Irish Rose". Yes, June could be a complicated lady, but she was genuinely kind, loving, hospitable, and compassionate, and she will be lovingly missed and remembered by friends and family. She loved The Lord Jesus, and she was indeed a good Christian wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

June's parents, her 3 brothers, her 2 sisters, many other relatives and her husband, Richard, have all been out of sight for quite some time now. She is survived by her daughter and primary caregiver during the last several years, Paula Veno of Charleston; son and daughter-in-law, R. Wayne and Mary B. Mills of Cayce, SC; 3 grandchildren, Richard Veno of Indian Harbour Beach, FL, Chris Veno of Trout, LA, and Wendy Veno of Acworth, GA; and one great-grandson, Matt Veno of Fairburn, GA.

The family wishes to express their grateful appreciation to the following for their love, care and support during June's illness: Ann and Kendra and the rest of the staff of Roper St. Francis Hospice; Pastor and friends at Pinecrest Baptist Church; and very loyal neighbors and friends John Barr and Dan Beam.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Pinecrest Baptist Church, 1285 Ashley Hall Road, Charleston, SC 29407.

And, NO, June did not write her own obituary; perhaps she's met a "Ghost" writer!

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