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ZUNI — Mildred Ethelyn Sykes McClenny of Zuni, Virginia, entered into eternal rest on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, in Cary, North Carolina.

She was 97 years old. She was born June 2, 1922, to Johnnie Sykes and Mattie Mayfield Sykes in Newsoms, Virginia.

She was a long time member of Gilfield Baptist Church, where she served as deaconess, choir member, missionary and leader of the children’s choir.

She was a member of the Eastern Star, the Southampton County Historical Society, the National Educators Association and a 4-H club leader.

She graduated from Mayfield Elementary School, Hayden High School and Old Dominion University.

She had a career as a school librarian at Ivor Elementary.

She was also well known as a master seamstress.

As a result of her research with the Southampton County Historical Society on one- and two-room schools, she co-authored “Still Sits the Little School-house.”

Mildred was preceded in death by parents, Johnnie Wise Sykes and Mattie Mayfield Sykes; husband, Gillespie “G.P”; siblings, Ellen S. Hooks, Evelyn S. Walker, Emmitt Sykes, Emma S. Davis, Johnnie Sykes, Eunice S. Ridgill, Leland Sykes, Melba S. Carmichael, Ruth S. Camp; daughter, Mildred Patricia; and son, Meade Raymond.

She leaves to mourn her loss a loving and devoted family, one daughter, Ruth Lorraine M. Wright of Raleigh, North Carolina; two sons, Gordon Eugene McClenny of Zuni, and Brian Clayton McClenny of Smithfield, North Carolina; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be in Gilfield Baptist Church, Ivor, on Friday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 10 to 11 a.m., immediately followed by the funeral.

Services of comfort are entrusted to the staff of McClenny Funeral Services Inc.; R.B. and Doris A. McClenny, morticians.

You may sign the guest register at http://www.mcclennyfuneralservice.com.