Mildred L. Bladen

Mildred Lee Bladen, 98, passed away on January 13, 2015, in her Beltsville home which she helped build and had lived in for 65 years. She was born on July 5, 1916 in Northern Virginia and moved to Beltsville when she was 8 years old. She was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Lee and Mary Ellen Johnson Lee; wife of the late Joseph Allen Bladen and  mother of Jeanne (Robert) Speight and Lynn (Charles) Garland. She is also survived by grandchildren; Brian (Kristy) Speight, Susan Speight, Peggy Harris, Jenny Hutchins and Charlie Kenney. She is the great-grandmother to Collin Speight, Dean Speight and Ashley Harris. She is the aunt to many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great, great-nieces and great, great-nephews.

For 61 years, she worked as an Avon Representative and for many years walked all over Beltsville, visiting with her customers, welcoming them to the community and forming many friends. For over 10 years, she served as the 4-H volunteer leader for the Beltsville Girls 4-H Club teaching youth to cook, sew and take advantages of many 4-H program opportunities. She was a lifetime member of the Maryland 4-H All Stars. An active member in the Beltsville Emmanuel Methodist Church, she served on many committees over the years. She was also involved in the Beltsville Young at Heart Club, enjoying many of their trips throughout the United States. For decades, she also enjoyed the Neighborhood Group and playing cards with her friends.

Visitation will be held at Borgwardt's Funeral Home, 4400 Powder Mill Rd., Beltsville, MD 20705 on Friday, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm . Pastor Daniel Mejia will conduct a prayer service at the Funeral Home at 2 pm . A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 16 ^th at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church  at 10 am; Internment will be at Fort Lincoln Cemetery following the service. Memorial donations may be made to Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville, MD 20705 or to your favorite charity.