Millicent Floris Softy

Millicent Floris (Mimi) Softy, 96, of Mount Pleasant, SC, passed away on February 23, 2024, after suffering a stroke.

Mimi was born on December 31, 1927, to Irving E. (Burt) and Evangeline (Eva) Knapp Burtaine, in Chicago, IL. Her parents were in Vaudeville, theatrical entertainment. Her mother was a dancer, and her father played the Timpani in the percussion section of the orchestra. Their love of music and dance instilled in Mimi her natural desire to do the same. She even auditioned before George Gershwin for a part in the chorus of one of his musicals when she was a young woman. Her parents’ careers in Vaudeville led them to New York City, where they also opened a candy store.

After Mimi graduated from Richmond Hill High School in 1945, she went on to study law, at Brooklyn Law School in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated with a degree in Law in 1950.

In 1950, she also married her sweetheart, Robert Allan (Bob) Softy. Mimi and Bob went on to have three children, Linda Ellen Perry (Stowe), Roberta Anne Webb (Sherwood), and Rodney Alexander Softy (Teresa).

They lived in Bellmore, Long Island for a few years before building a home in Huntington, LI, NY where they raised their children.

In 1958 Mimi and Bob made an investment which proved to bring invaluable joy to Mimi and her children (and grandchildren) for the next 49 years. They purchased a small cottage on Mako Lane in Amagansett, Long Island. Every summer Mimi would pack up the kids the day after school let out for summer vacation and they would all stay in Amagansett until Labor Day. Those summers brought so much happiness to the entire family. The cottage was Mimi’s favorite place in the world: her beloved little house which she kept pristine and colorful and perfect inside and out, and her flower boxes filled with pink geraniums which she tended with loving care each day as they bloomed profusely throughout the summer.

Mimi has four grandchildren, Lauren Marie Perry, Cordon Scott Perry, Lewis Ashton Webb, and Bryson Lee Webb. She has also been blessed with 10 great-grandchildren.

After living many years in Huntington on Long Island, Mimi and Bob decided to spend their retirement years in Mount Pleasant, SC. In 1997, they relocated to Snee Farm in Mount Pleasant, SC.

They were members of Snee Farm Country Club, where they loved to play golf. Mimi was also a member of the Snee Farm Garden Club. She and Bob loved to dance together, so at any party or event you would see them on the dance floor.

For many years of her life, Mimi was a devout member of the The First Church of Christ, Scientist. She served as a soloist at the Sunday morning service, in Huntington Long Island.

After Bob passed away, Mimi wanted to continue on with dancing, and joined several Dance Clubs, including the Ballroom Dance Club of Charleston, Carolina Dancesport, and International Ballroom Dance Studios. She travelled with the dance clubs and did competitive dancing for a number of years until she finally retired from it at the age of 88.

A proud supporter of the South Carolina Aquarium, Mimi was a Charter Member.

She spent her last active years dancing and socializing at the Mount Pleasant Senior Center. She loved playing games such as Mahjong, Canasta, and the Mexican Train game.

In August of 2021, Mimi decided to move into Merrill Gardens at Carolina Park. She especially loved the dining staff and her favorite chair at their lunch counter, where they catered to her. She had many wonderful caregivers.

Millicent was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 49 years.

Services will be private.