Olivia Emeline Willis Milner

Olivia Emeline Willis Milner, 97, died September 16, 2005, at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport. Mrs. Milner was a native of Elizabeth, MS and a resident of Gulfport for more than 70 years. She attended Blue Mountain College, received a BA in Education and a lifetime teaching certificate from Mississippi University for Women, and pursued a Masters in Literature from Tulane University in New Orleans. Mrs. Milner taught in the Gulfport Public schools for many years. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, was active in Women of the Church, a member of the Gulfport Yacht Club, the Yacht Club Auxiliary, Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Gulfport Garden Club, the Gulfport Woman's Club, a Red Cross volunteer and a former member of the Revelers Carnival Organization. Mrs. Milner was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Hill Milner, Sr. of Gulfport; her parents, Martha Weilenman Willis and Robert Lester Willis of Elizabeth; her sisters, Mary Alice Willis of Greenville and Martha Willis Hendricks of Yazoo City; her brothers, Lawrence Alfred Willis of Leland, Robert Lester Willis, Jr. of Elizabeth and Alton Parker Willis of West Palm Beach, FL. Survivors include one brother, Edward Rather Willis of Clinton; her children, Robert H. Milner, Jr. and wife, Marsha, John K. Milner, II and wife, Linda, and Olivia (Libby) M. Roland and husband, Ron, all of Gulfport; eight grandchildren, Robin C. Milner, Christopher R. Milner, Rachel M. Taylor, John (Jay) K. Milner, III of Morgantown, GA, Lawrence A. Milner, Preston G. Roland of Monterey, CA, Jessica B. Roland of Nashville, TN, and Justin M. Roland; six great-grandchildren, Maya Milner, Kelly Milner, Jake Milner, Millie Taylor, Mary Jane Milner and Abigail Olivia Roland of Monterey, CA. Graveside service will be held at the Stoneville Cemetery just outside of Leland, MS, at 4:30p.m. Wednesday, September 21, 2005. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road in Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. The family prefers memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1214 24th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501 or donations for the Reconstruction of Grasslawn, City of Gulfport, 2309 15th Street, MS 39501.