Lillie Mickels

Mrs. Lillie Beard Mickels is the second eldest of five children.  She was born on January 9th, 1945, in Hatchechubbee, Alabama to the late Eddie and Everline Sanders Starkes Jones. Lillie’s family relocated to East Chicago, IN when she was just three years old.  She later accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a young age and became a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.  Lillie rededicated her life to Christ in the early 2000's while living in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She and her recently departed husband; Bennie Paul Mickels, who were married for over twenty-six years; both renewed their intimate relationship with the Lord while there.  Lillie continued to grow in the Lord, and after moving she began to spend countless hours just praising God, singing before His presence with her children.  This continued to be her focus even in her last hours as she returned to Indiana with her youngest daughters.  This is where she took her final rest and transitioned into the arms of Jesus.  

Lillie was a graduate of East Chicago Roosevelt High School. She had a thirst for learning and continued her post education receiving her first certification in senior care.  She later followed her passion in cooking and combined her rich experience of preparing southern styled foods with a certification in culinary arts.  She enjoyed preparing home cooked meals along with fancy foods for her loved ones, extended family, and friends.  This led to her later running a local family-owned restaurant.  Filled with ambition and a zeal for life Lille went on to return to school and graduate with a Bachelors in English and a second degree in Early Childhood Development.  She was a graduate of Purdue University and became an Education Counselor and Substitute Teacher at Central High School formally Theodore Roosevelt High.  She spoke Spanish fluently, was a Spanish and Culinary Arts instructor at Purdue University.  Lillie had so many interests and she believed in following all her dreams, and becoming whatever, you could imagine yourself to be!  She loved teaching the youth and helping the seniors in the community; in any way that she could.  

Most of all Lillie aka “Totsie” loved her family, having birthed six children with her first husband John E. Beard, and having a host of special nieces, nephews, and bonus children; she returned to her very first passion of being a stay-at-home wife, mother, and grandmother.  Lillie enjoyed life and was super big on family. She had enjoyed game shows of which she knew all the answers and was better that any television contestant.  Lillie also loved to dress well, dance, make others laugh with her special humor of imitating others.  She had a knack for decorations and planning parties, Lillie was the first neighborhood 501c 3 organization even before they were a thing.  Lillie was a giver and had a heart of gold.  She also enjoyed special times with her first cousins who were like siblings.  Lillie and her sisters had the most amazing relationships.  The four sisters were closer than close: Eddie Mae Starkes Pearson, Katie Starkes Clark, Theresa Jones Oliver, and Matilda Jones.  

Lillie B. Mickels left this life and entered her new resting place in Christ Jesus on Thursday August 4, 2022, leaving to cherish her memories: Her beloved children; (Minister) Johnnyce Beard Sams, (Houston, TX) Rhondalyn Beard Olson and Greg Eugene Olson (Wake Forest NC), Ella Faye Beard Carter and Christopher Carter (Pensacola, FL), Byron K. Beard Sr., and Chelsea Beard (Frisco, TX)  (Apostle) Dana D. Beard (Gary, IN), and Zena Agatha Jones (Gary, IN), eighteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandkids.  Special first cousins, a host of special nieces and nephews, and bonus children.  Mom, you fought the good fight of faith against all odds, fell in love with Jesus all over again, afresh and a knew, left an example how to love people unconditionally and how to go for your dreams to fulfill your purpose and destiny in life and in Christ!  Lillie B. Mickels made her peace with God, set a good example of love, courage, and never giving up!

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