Vivian Gillespie Milner

AIKEN – Vivian Gillespie Milner, 91, died Thursday, August 25, 2011. She was the widow of G. Ashford Milner, Jr., a native of Aiken. The daughter of a Regular Army officer, Col. James Gillespie, and Vivian Sarratt Gillespie, Mrs. Milner lived on many Army post in the U.S.; Bogotá, Columbia, and Salt Lake City, Utah while growing up. A graduate in Journalism of the University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill, N.C. Class of 1941, Mrs. Milner was a general assignment and feature writer for the Augusta, G.A. Herald during World War II. Later she wrote feature articles for newspapers and regional magazines. For a time she wrote a column for the Aiken Standard and Review. She researched and edited RECOLLECTIONS, The Church Letters and Essays of Elizabeth Teague, a lifelong resident of Aiken. It was published in 1987. Mrs. Milner was a world traveler. She was active for many years in the Aiken Branch, American Association of University Women, The Episcopal Churchwomen of St. Thaddeus Church, and The Student Club. As her mother was a classical pianist, music was always a part of her life. She was a member of the Aiken Symphony Guild, USCA Cultural Series, The Metropolitan Opera Guild and The Aiken Student Club. Surviving are a son, G. Ashford Milner III (Teddy); a daughter, Kathryn Sarratt Milner; two grandsons, G. Ashford Milner, IV (Cher); Morgan Milner; two nephews, James A. Gillespie III, John C. Gillespie, a niece, E. Anne Gillespie, a great niece, Hannah Gillespie and a great nephew Heath Gillespie. A son, Richard Gillespie Milner preceded her in death. The funeral will be Monday, August 29, at 4:30 at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church with the Reverends Joseph S. Whitehurst and Grant B. Wiseman officiating. Internment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service in the Stevenson-McClelland Building. Honorary pallbearers will be The Aiken Student Club Members. For those who wish, Memorials may be made to the S.C. National Alliance For The Mentally Ill, P.O. Box 1267, Columbia, S.C. 29202, St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, 125 Pendleton St. SW, Aiken, S.C. 29801, or the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, P.O. Box 1702, Aiken, SC 29802. Mrs. Milner’s online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vivian Gillespie Milner, please visit our flower store.