Mildred Faye Dodson, 96, died at 5:20 a.m., on Saturday, January17, 2026 at her residence. She was born on January 22, 1929 in Paragould, Arkansas, the daughter of the late William Houston and Ona Grace (Yeargain) Beeler. Mildred was retired in 1993 after 29 years teaching at New Doulas Elementary, New Douglas, Illinois. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alton. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Greenville College and a Master Degree from S.I.U. Edwardsville in Elementary Education. She loved Jesus, her family and her church family. Over the years she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and AWANA. She loved to sew, do embroidery work and cross stitch. She was also an avid reader. She was still working on quilts in December. She will be missed. On December16, 1950 in Paragould, Arkansas, she married Rev. Vernon Dodson and he preceded her on May 28, 2010. Surviving are son and daughters, Danny R. (Janice) Dodson of Mulberry Grove, Illinois, Deborah K. Mutman of Godfrey, Illinois, Brenda L. Dale of Alton, Illinois and Alicia S. (Wayne) Hill of Godfrey, Illinois, fourteen grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and a sister, Peggy Gordon. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Earl, Glynn, Dale, Billie and Azro Beeler and a sister, Ruth. Visitation will be form 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Calvary Baptist Church, Alton. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Calvary Baptist Church, Alton, with Reverend Andre' Dobson officiating. Burial will be in Upper Alton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Alton. Gent Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook and information can be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com .