Mildred Joyce Cummings Greene, born Sept. 19, 1909 in Pecan Gap, Texas, died the evening of Dec. 29, 2010 in her bedroom at her daughter's house in Dallas' Swiss Avenue Historic District. In declining heal-th for about 18 months due to age-related dementia, Mother's condition deteriorated rapidly beginning Christmas evening. She was under hospice care only 53 hours. Known as Mildred, Mimi (pronounced "Mimmy"), Joyce, Aunt Mimi and Mother, she was a third-generation Texan. Mother considered Farmers-ville in Collin County her childhood hometown; she grew up in that farming community and graduated from its high school. She was a Dallas resident more than 60 years, all but the last 8 years spent in Oak Cliff. In her active years, Mother was a member of Seed Savers Garden Club, First Nighters African Violet Club and the International Porcelain Arts Guild. Only after I was in high school in the late 'Sixties did she diligently pursue interests other than those of a devoted, unselfish, tireless mother and housewife - performing all the never-ending chores those roles entail. She cooked three meals a day, except for the occasional Sunday or celebratory dinner at Oak Cliff's Youngblood's Fried Chicken, El Fenix or El Chico, until my father's death in 1988. She sewed and repaired clothing, washed the dishes, did the laundry, cleaned the house - all without complaint. My father strived to provide her with modern conveniences, but that was the extent of his contribution to unending household drudgery. I, her only child, used "studying" as a daily excuse to avoid helping her. I graduated from SMU not knowing how to cook, sew, bake, do laundry or iron, except pillowcases; I did know a bit about dusting and vacuuming. She graduated from North Texas State Teacher's College (now UNT) with a teaching certificate and taught in country schools but a few years. She married Charlie H. Greene, a USAF master sergeant, in the months preceding WWII; the union was officiated by Justice of the Peace John B. Connally of Floresville, Texas. She gave birth to her only child in 1951, at the age of 42, long after she had given up hope of being a mother. From that day on, I was her first thought and concern, and my father assumed a secondary place in her world. I learned the particularities of that status on Sept. 30, 1986, when her beloved only grandchild was born. I remained, however, a cherished daughter until the end. In her last hours, although she could not speak clearly, she uttered those words I took for granted: "I love you, Mariana." I returned that love with a depth words cannot define. Family was Mother's world, and that extended to her remaining beloved siblings, adored nieces and nephews, dear cousins and devoted son-in-law. She was consumed with family history, enjoyed retelling family stories and kept the genealogy of multiple generations in her head until recent years. Mother's skills included growing flowers, cooking and baking Southern specialties (our comfort foods), the needle arts, painting exquisite flowers and fruits on porcelain and teaching others how to paint. She rocked in her father's creaky chair and hummed old Methodist hymns until the last days of her life. She is survived by her daughter, Mariana Caroline Greene; grandson, Will Schutze; son-in-law Jim Schutze; siblings, Dorothy Rodden, of Denton, Mary Jane Dennison, of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Bobby Joe Cummings, now in Wichita Falls; and generations of cousins, nieces and nephews. The family owes loving gratitude to Mother's caregiver, Elena Marrero, for the selfless, devoted, daily care and love she gave to her Miss Mildred for more than two years. The funeral service is 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, at Greenland Hills United Methodist Church, 5835 Penrose Ave., Dallas. A private entombment will follow at LaurelLand Cemetery.