Nannie Wise Milliner died on Friday, March 20, 2015.
Born Feb. 27, 1925, in Newport News to Beatrice Crockett Wise and Walter Robertson Wise of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, (deceased), Nannie was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Thomas Milliner, and siblings Walter Junior, John, and Ann Nicholas.
She is survived by her sister, Nellie Sue Gray of Newport News. Nannie is also survived by her son, Walter Thomas Milliner Jr. and his wife Diane and their children, Christine and Mark; her daughter, Nannie Susanne Considine and her husband Joseph and children, Gerald Diddle and Brett Burgess; her son, Michael Smith Milliner and his wife Cecilia and children, Lucas and Timothy; and her son, Bennett Wise Milliner and his wife Maria and daughter, Merideth. Nannie is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Christina, Matthew, twins Christopher and Nicholas, Raven, and Samara; also, former daughters-in-law, Deborah Milliner, mother of Lucas and Timothy, and Mary Milliner, mother of Merideth and Andrew (deceased). She also leaves behind her precious feline companion, Abby.
Nannie, a native of Newport News, graduated from Newport News High School and was initially a secretary for Weaver Brothers Lumber Company of Newport News. She married Walter Thomas Milliner of Accomac, Va., in 1945 at which time a life of travel began with her new husband who was then a Captain in the Army Air Corps. Within their first eight years together, their four children were born.
During her 69 years of marriage and raising a family, Nannie made lasting friendships that enhanced her life and those around her. She volunteered in hospitals, including in the Hospice program at Riverside Hospital. While living in Gloucester Point, Nannie was chairman of Gloucester’s Red Cross Blood program for three years.
Nannie’s faith was an important part of her life, and her greatest joy came from the many churches in which she was involved, beginning with singing in the choir in her teens at the Chestnut Avenue Methodist Church. Nannie taught Sunday school for teens, and became a Lay Eucharistic Minister and Lector at the Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown.
Nannie is remembered by her family and friends as loving and caring, generous and thoughtful. Elegant and poised, and with a bit of mischief that made her a delight to know and love, Nannie filled her life, and the lives she touched, with joy and love and tenderness. To all who knew her, Nannie beautifully modeled the verse from I Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” No words can express the impact this amazing woman has had and will continue to have on so many and she will forever be held close to our hearts and memories.
The funeral will be conducted at Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown, on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery with reception following.
Donations in Nannie’s memory to the charity of your choice are appreciated.
The family would like to express gratitude to the entire staff at Williamsburg Landing for their kind and devoted care of our mother during her many happy years there.