Mildred Elizabeth Bossard Rutledge, age 80, of 307 W.S. 4th Street, Seneca, died Monday, July 13, 2009, at North Greenville Hospital in Travelers Rest.

Mildred Elizabeth Bossard Rutldge, born August 24, 1928 in Blythewood, South Carolina, was the oldest of three children of the late Belasco Jackson Bossard Sr. and the late Emma Jane Brice Bossard.

Mildred believed in the power of a strong educational foundation. She was valedictorian of Bethel High School in Blythewood. She graduated with honors from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina in 1951 with a BA in English. She received her Masters degree from North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Mildred began her teaching career in Oconee County in 1951. She first taught at Westminster Negro High School before moving to Oconee County Training School - East End, Blue Ridge High School and Seneca High School. She retired in 1982 after 30 years of loyal service as an English and Social Studies teacher.

Mildred began her Christian walk as a child at Pine Grove AME Church and Bethel Baptist Church in Blythewood, South Carolina. In 1953, she joined Ebenezer Baptist Church in Seneca, South Carolina. She served faithfully until her death as a member of the Missionary Board, the Building and Finance Committe, Sunday School, the Senior Choir and Past Chair of the Deaconess Board.

Mildred dedicated her life to the service of others. While at Benedict College, she was initiated into the Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She was a loyal member of the Epsilon Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She was a 50-year member of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar No. 147 Order of the Eastern Star, the Women's Federation Club, the Oconee County Teachers Association, the Oconee County Retired Teachers Association, the Benedict College Alumni Association of Oconee County and the NAACP.

Mildred was a faithful wife and devoted mother. In 1952, she was joined in matrimony to James Davis Rutledge. She was preceded in death by her husband and her beloved son, James Dwight Rutledge. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Belasco Jackson (Jack) Bossard Jr. and Curtis Nathan Bossard.

Mildred's memory will be cherished by her loving daughter, Jacqueline Loretta Rutledge of Greenville, S.C.; grandson, Dwight Tremain (Monique) Rutledge; and great-grandddaughter, Eadin Amaris Rutledge of Piedmont, S.C.; aunt, Josephine Brown of Blythewood, S.C.; uncle, Charles Barber Sr. of Fairfax, Va.; nieces, Lila Mae Poole of Seneca, S.C., Mildred Scott of Trenton, N.J., and Jo Emma William of Canton, Ohio; nephews, James Poole of Bridgeport, Conn., George (Shirley) Poole of Trenton, N.J., Eric K. Bossard of Lansdale, Pa., and Bryan J. (Kimber) Bossard of Pittsburg, Pa; daughter-in-law, Loretta B. Rutledge of Taylors, S.C.; sister-in-law, Winnie W. Bossard of Dover, Del.; and a host of loving great-newphews and great-nieces, cousins, family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 19, 2009, at 4 p.m. at the Seneca River Family Life Center in Seneca. Burial in the Oak Grove Cemetery. The body will be placed in the center at 3 p.m. Sunday. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Ebenezer Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Ebenezer Baptist Church Educational Wing, 502 East South 2nd Street, Seneca, SC 29679.

The family is at the home.

Adams Mortuary is in charge.


Published in The Greenville News: 07-17-2009