Mrs. Millicent Goins Graves, 48 of Wilson, died on Sunday, March 22, 2020 at her residence. Respecting recent CDC and governmental health guidelines, a private funeral and burial are planned for immediate family. However at a later date, there will be a Celebration of Life Memorial Service for other family and friends. Public viewing will be on Thursday, March 26, 2020 from 2-7 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home. Direct condolences to edwardscares.com. Professional and personal services are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home, Inc. 805 Nash Street East in Wilson, NC.

The Obituary

Millicent Yvette Goins Graves departed her life on March 22, 2020 at 8:20 p.m. She was born June 2, 1971 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was the loving daughter of Ernest Winstead and Bernice Pender Winstead. Her biological father is Garland L. Goins. She was the loving wife of Kenneth A. Graves and the mother of Kennedy and Mackenzie Graves.

Millicent attended Elm City Elementary and Elm City Middle Schools and graduated from Ralph L. Fike High School in Wilson, NC with the class of 1989. She furthered her education at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC; where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. She then went on to obtain a Juris Doctorate degree from North Carolina Central University Law School in Durham, NC. She worked with Perry and Brown Law Associates in Rocky Mount and Wilson, NC for several years before she opened her own private law practice in Wilson, NC, specializing in family and juvenile law. She closed her practice in 2013 and became the Child Support Attorney for Nash County Department of Social Services.

Millicent accepted Christ at an early age and joined Olive Chapel Baptist Church in Sharpsburg, NC under the leadership of the late Rev. Lonnie Ellis. She was a dedicated and faithful member until 2014. With God always by her side, she started visiting other churches, searching for the right church home for her and her family. Her most visited church was Farmington Heights in Wilson, NC.

Millicent was a dedicated member of the Wilson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; where she served as president for four years. She was a member of The Links, Incorporated and Frederick Douglass High School Alumni Association. Millicent served on the boards of both My Sister's House Domestic Abuse Shelter of Nash County and the Wesley Shelter of Wilson. Millicent was the first African American female chairman of the Wilson County Democratic Party. She served on the Board of Trustees for Wilson Community College and on the Board of Directors for Wilson Area Habitat for Humanity and the Wilson County Substance Abuse Coalition. She was an active member of the North Carolina and Wilson County Bar Associations and the Wilson County Substance Abuse Coalition Board.

Millicent loved traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family. She also enjoyed planning various events. Most of all, she loved God, family and serving people. Millicent tried to help everybody who needed her assistance.

She leaves to cherish her memories her loving husband, Kenneth A. Graves, her son, Kennedy Graves and her daughter, Mackenzie Graves all of the home; her mother and father, Bernice and Ernest Winstead of Wilson, NC; her biological father, Garland Goins of Winston-Salem, NC; one brother, Ali Goins (Candance) of Raleigh, NC; three sisters-in-law, Elvira Howell of Raleigh, NC, Debra Graves of Durham, NC and Janice Graves of Yanceyville, NC; four nieces, Camryn Goins, Kendal Goins, Delia H. Peterson (Erik) and Diyana Howell; one nephew, Sean Howell; one goddaughter, Kristina Bookman; one godbrother, AJ Williams; one godsister, Shayla Ellis; a special aunt, Carolyn Brown; two special cousins, Lorrie Batson and Trina Prewitt; and a host of aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.