Esther Riley Mills, 71, of Snow Hill, died Monday, December 17, 2012 at Snow Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, a day after her 71st birthday. She was born December 16, 1941 in Newark, Maryland, a daughter of the late Harold B. Riley and Hazel Bloxom Riley. On December 20, 1959 she married her high school sweetheart, the late Richard A. Mills, who passed in 1995. In her younger days Esther worked in sales at various women's fashion shops in Snow Hill, Ocean City and Salisbury. Her most rewarding job was being a wife, mother and homemaker. She was a long time member of Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Snow Hill. She was a former member of the Snow Hill Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. She is survived by 2 sons, Richard "Ricky" A. Mills, Jr. (Gloria) of Snow Hill and Ronald K. Mills (Courtnaye) of Martinsville, VA; 4 grandchildren, Jaclyn Mills and Michelle Mills, both of Greensboro, NC; and Richard Mills, III and Melissa Mills Jenkins (Mike), all of Snow Hill; 2 step-grandchildren, PFC Cameron McCowan, who is stationed on the Sinai Peninsula and Chandler McCowan of Greensboro, NC; a sister, Dorothy Townsend of Salisbury; and 2 sisters-in-law, Winnie Riley of Berlin and Charlotte Riley of Newark. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Harold C. Riley, Edward Riley and Robert Riley, and a sister-in-law, Dorothy P. Riley. A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 21, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Snow Hill, where family and friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00. The Reverends Andrew Frick and Sherwood McGrath will officiate. Interment will follow at Whatcoat United Methodist Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Whatcoat United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 272, Snow Hill, MD 21863 or Snow Hill Fire Department, P.O. Box 83, Snow Hill, MD 21863. Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home, Delmar. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.