Clydia Milner

Clydia Y. Milner, of Brandon, MS, daughter of Clyde and Hellen Mooney, born in Edinburg, MS, passed away Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the age of 85. She is survived by daughters, Cheryl & David Sanders and Jim & Teri Dawn Neely-Hill, three grandchildren Ellen & Mark McKissack, Brice & Lydia McGee and Kaylee McGee (& Ryan Holifield), and one great grandchild, Jax William McKissack. She is also survived by sisters, Polly & Larry Adams, Dot & George Vogel, and Lou Ann Manuel, and predeceased by sisters Shirley Smith, Freddie Bridges and Peggy Allen. Clydia was a United Methodist Church Pastor’s wife for 46 years. She and James served at Forrest Hill, Alta Woods, Boling Street, Anguilla, Freeny, Lena, Hermanville, and Roxy, United Methodist Churches. She was a model Preacher’s Wife! Clydia had a Servant’s Heart.  She gave far more than she received; whether food, clothes, time or money. Sis, Nana and The Reverend Mother, as she was affectionately called, will be greatly missed. She was most definitely “Loved & Respected”! Mom told us that at first, she did NOT want to be a Preacher’s Wife. Dad had to wait six years until she too received “the call”. She was well worth the wait! No Pastor or Church could’ve asked for a better. When Dad passed away, Mom continued with her own ministry – One where her life was the sermon. Dad died in 2017.  He again had to wait another six years. Again, She was well worth the wait!

Tid-Bits About Clydia Milner:

- Was second out of seven sisters

- Named after her father, Clyde

- Played basketball 7th-12th grades; playing every minute of every game

- #1 Basketball Player in the State for both boys and girls her Senior Year of High School

- Was offered a college Basketball Scholarship in TN, but could not afford it; had to go to work

- Farm Girl: picked cotton, plowed fields, cut/hauled firewood and hay, milked cows, hauled corn by horse and wagon, much of which had to be done before going to school

- Graduated from Draughns Business College in 1959

- Met James Milner on a blind date; married Dec 4, 1960

- She & James had a pet monkey, Nikita Khrushchev, for 5 yrs

- In 1972 she and James began their ministry in Roxie, MS

- Swept the carport EVERY day

- You could often find her in her car taking a nap to keep warm, even in the summertime

- Dad always got in on Mom’s side of the bed to warm it up before she got in

- Wrote chores and notes on paper plates

- Liver transplant recipient 2002 / Quadruple Heart Bypass 2013

- NEVER had gray hair

- “I don’t give or receive hugs well, but I’m an expert at giving out loose $20’s.”

- A Great Cook!  She showed love through food!

- Loved Chico’s and wanted clothes & jewelry to match

- Always wore lipstick and thought you should too

- Her favorite basketball team was the Golden State Warriors

- Her favorite basketball player was they Stephen Curry

- Cooked Sunday Lunch every week; everyone was invited

- NEVER worried … about anything!

The Sweet Potato Story

We found where Mom had written out some details of her life.  One story that we think describes Mom is the “Sweet Potato Story” – how she was always cooking and doing for others, and how the Lord always, uniquely rewarded her.  In her own words …

“Clemis and I got laid off from the Presto Plant, so we drew our unemployment.  We would go home on weekends and get food to help out.  Clemis got married, Gaynell went to Morton, Joan got a job at the telephone company.  Polly went to work at Jackson Hinds Bank.  Mrs. Moss lived two houses down from our apartment.  I would go to visit her.  She could hardly get about, so I would bake her sweet potatoes, put butter on it and take it to her.  She loved it, so I would do it a lot.  One day she said, “Honey would you like to go to school?”  I told her I didn’t have a job or money.  She said, “I own half of Draughn’s Business College.”  She picked up the phone and told Mr. Owens the other owner to come to her house.  He came and she told him about my situation.  He called Star Drugs and got me a job and told me I could make monthly payments.  I started to Draughn’s Business College.  I went to school from 8:30-12:30 and to work at 1:00-9:00 at night, not much time to study.  (I lived with Polly and Louise.)  It took me a year to finish.  We had the first graduation with cap and gowns.  Shirley and Virgie came to my graduation.