April 5, 1931 – March 3, 2019

NATCHEZ— Services for Barbara Ann McNeil Mingee, 87, who died Sunday, March 3, 2019, at her residence, will be 2 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from noon until service time today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Mingee was born Easter Sunday, April 5, 1931, in Natchez, the oldest child of John Clay McNeil and Wilma Lorene Kimberlin McNeil.
She was a 1949 graduate of Natchez High School and maintained many high school friendships until her death. She attended one year of college at Millsaps College in Jackson.
She married Robert Henry “Bob” Mingee, Feb. 18, 1955, and was the proud mother of three daughters.
She was a charter member of Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, having served in every church leadership role. She served as the New Day Sunday School class teacher for 54 years. In 2016, she was presented with the Susannah Wesley Award of Excellence for her service to Christ and the church.
Mrs. Mingee worked as a sales clerk at Cole’s Department Store and Sears & Roebuck. She then served as the Montebello School playground monitor and for 25 years, as the testing aide in the Natchez-Adams School District evaluation department. Upon her retirement, she completed a mission trip to Mexico and served her community as a volunteer at Frazier Primary School, Natchez Community Hospital, St. Andrews Mission Store and the Natchez Humane Society.  She was honored by her community with an Unsung Hero recognition in 2002 and the Community Hospital Caring Woman Mentor Award in 2010.  In her last few years, she began a coloring and card ministry to spread cheer.
She became a Girl Scout leader in 1964, when she formed a troop for her oldest daughter and her friends. She continued her involvement with Girl Scouts until her retirement in 1996, having served as troop leader for a number of troops, day camp coordinator, cookie chairman and neighborhood chairman for Natchez-Adams County. Her influence touched the lives of hundreds of girls, teaching them leadership and life skills to empower them to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, or whatever they aspired to be.
She loved her daughters with her whole heart. She was proud of their accomplishments and taught them to be independent and hardworking Christian women.
Mingee was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, John C. McNeil Jr., Henry Ralph McNeil and George Thomas McNeil.
Survivors include three daughters, Esther Lorene Mingee and Roberta Susan Mingee of Natchez, and Peggy Ann Mingee Kelly and husband, Donald, of Vicksburg; one sister, Billie Sue Wilson and husband, Benny Jack; brother-in-law, Wayne Mingee and wife, Janette; three sisters-in-law, Ruth McNeil, Nan McNeil and Lawahi Skinner; a number of nieces and nephews; her special friend and caregiver, Corine Fleming; and her “special” granddaughters, Katie Williams Hicks, Anna Williams Chappell and Abby Williams Murray.
Pallbearers will be nephews, John McNeil, Chip Mingee, Chuck Mingee, Rick Wilson, Steve Wilson, and special friends, Finley Hootsell and John Gamberi.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the LLUMC New Day Sunday School class.
The family extends thanks to Dr. Ed Daly for his remarkable care and support for a number of years, Judy Bartley and Deaconess Hospice, including Dr. Kenneth Stubbs, and Deaconess Hospice nurse, Courtney Wyles.
Memorials may be sent to Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, 65 Morgantown Road in Natchez or The United Methodist Hour, P.O. Box 1393, Clinton, MS 39060.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.