Mildred Jean Rau Silvea

We lost our dear Mildred Jean Rau Silvea, on May 4, 2026, after a brief illness. Millie was born on July 29, 1939, in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Edgar Sr. and Ruth Yearley Rau. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, William Volckman Jr., her brother Edgar Rau Jr., and her sisters Doris Price, Sally Schmidt, and Genevieve Davis. She is survived by her son, Ernest Volckman; her granddaughter Miranda Stefan; her grandson Lukas Volckman; her greatgrandchildren Lauren Blankenship, Kailey Stefan, and Mason Stefan; her sisters, Edna Haller and Lois Sandra Horkey, along with her spiritual family in the Waynesboro congregation. Millie found her true calling in her devotion to her faith. A dedicated member of Jehovah’s Witnesses since her baptism on November 16, 2013, she found immense joy in sharing her love for Jehovah with everyone she met. She never met a stranger. Her zeal was infectious, and she never missed an opportunity to spread the message of her faith. Her generosity knew no bounds. Millie lived to feed and care for others, offering whatever she had to those in need. Millie was everyone’s adopted mom or grandma. She excitedly looked forward to hosting her weekly “family dinners” with close friends and it nearly broke her heart when her arthritis got to the point she couldn't cook like she wanted. Her kindness was legendary, with friends fondly recalling her willingness to give any of her belongings if she believed it would help another. As one friend lovingly remarked, “she’d give you her teeth if she thought you’d starve without any.” She was always quick to tell you how much she loved you. She always tried to be encouraging. If you were having a bad day and needed a boost, all you had to do was call Millie. In celebrating her life, we honor a woman whose faith and love were as boundless as her generosity. We all long to see our “mighty little munchkin” again soon.