Born July 1, 1932 in Danville, Virginia and died August 1, 2018 in Round Hill, Virginia. She attended elementary, junior and senior high in Danville. During the summer of 1949 Mildred attended a 3 week vocal camp at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. It was directed by the college's founder John Finley Williamson. Unknowingly she also met her future husband, George Robert Downer. They met again in September 1950 when each enrolled as a freshman.
Following their freshman year they each were selected as members of the 40 voice touring Westminster Choir. In the following 3 years they went on 3 separate tours of 3 to 8 weeks encompassing 23 states. In addition they sang 25 concerts with the New York Philarmonic in Carnegie Hall, NYC, under the direction of Bruno Walter, Leonard Bernstein, Dimitri Metropolis and Guido Cantelli.
In May of 1954 Mildred graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College. She married Bob Downer on August 7, 1954. Mildred taught private voice lessons for many years. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang numerous solos. She had the privilege of performing the role of the Mother in "Amahl and the Night Visitors" with her son Mark singing the role of Amahl. She served as Assistant Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Austin, Texas from 1961 to 1994. There she directed the children's choirs and was instrumental in organizing "Cantamos" a young women's ensemble that sang at the church and throughout the community and "Ancora", a senior adult choir. She is well known for her talent in choreographing musicals as well as envisioning and directing "Living Christmas Cards". The church subsequently named Millie and Bob Ministers of Music Emeritus. They also received the "Alumni Merit Award from Westminster Choir College in 1987. Hundreds of students sang in their choirs and many chose a career in music. They were the perfect complement to each other in their work and in their marriage.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, George Robert Downer, her father, Harvey Elliott Newman, her Mother, Stella Craven Newman and her son-in-law, Stephen Loy Combs. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Downer Combs of Virginia, son, Mark Elliott Downer and wife Renee Joseph Downer of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren who lovingly called her Meemommie, Preston Gill of Evant, Texas, Lauren Combs, Madison Combs and his wife Kayla (who is expecting a baby girl in January) of Virginia, Ryan and Brandon Downer of Texas, 2 great grandchildren, Colin and Mason Gill of Michigan, her sister-in-law Eloise Downer Pantermuehl and her husband Buddy of Texas as well as many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a close family friend who became like another daughter, Louise Kemp Avant of Austin. She touched many lives with an abundance of love and had many people call her "Mom".
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Robin Massie (a former voice student of Millie's and a current teacher at her alma mater) and her husband Stephen Condy for the production of their second sacred music CD, 15 Kernel Lane, Levittown, PA 19055 or Capital Caring Hospice(who lovingly cared for Millie and Bob) 2900 Telestar Ct., Falls Church, VA 22042.
