Mittie Mae Salter

Mittie Mae Salter transitioned into eternity on December 18, 2011 after a brief illness in Tucson, Arizona. She was born on May 22, 1914, as the eldest daughter of Sam and Justina Oliver in Enterprise, Mississippi. Mittie accepted Christ at a very early age, and by her mid teens was the leader of the Youth Organization within the local Methodist Episcopal District. At age 17, she married the love of her life, Rubin Salter Sr. on December 27, 1931. Mittie Mae followed her husband to Freeport, Illinois in the early 1940'™s. The Salters were passionate entrepreneurs, owning Salter'™s Grocery and Luncheon as well as the Salter'™s Bar- B-Que Ranch. Mittie was a strong civil rights activist in the Freeport community. Her involvement included such organizations as Freedom of Residence, the NAACP and The Urban League. She was a founding member of a local black and white couples group attempting to establish racial common ground through 'Fireside Chats' . Her civic involvement included being one of the first African Americans in the Freeport Women'™s League, a member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA and the advisory committee of the Board of Education. She authored a book, 'The History of Blacks in Stephenson County'. However, her greatest love was being an active servant of the Lord Jesus at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Freeport and later Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Tucson, Az. She held many positions in the church including Sunday School Teacher, President of the Mission Board and Intercessor. Mittie is survived by two sons, Rubin Jr. ( Deanna ) of Tucson, Arizona and Larry ( Dollie ) of Johns Creek, Georgia, a daughter, Yvonne Rodgers of Loganville, Georgia; a sister, Rachel Harris of Tucson, Arizona; two sister-in-laws, Ophelia Oliver of Racine, Wisconsin and Grace Suggs of Freeport, Illinois; a brother-in-law, James Pruitt of Denver, Colorado; four granddaughters, Kellie Ortiz, Dana Salter, Kimberly Salter and Leslie Rodgers; four grandsons, Branden Salter, Darien Coe, Kristian Salter and Nathan Coe; four great grand children, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be at the Burke Tubbs Funeral Home, 504 N. Walnut, Freeport, Il, from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011. The Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Freeport, Illinois.