Marcia McMillin

Marcia McMillin, died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. She was the daughter of the late Col. Douglass Newman McMillin, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Ariel Stevenson McMillin originally, of Gadsden, Ala. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Garvin McMillin Colburn, of Lookout Mountain; three nieces, Ariel F. Colburn, of Nashville, I. Cecilia Colburn, of Lookout Mountain, and Rosemary C. (Jim) Milburn, of Lookout Mountain; grandnephew, J. Charles (Latricia) Milburn, of Chattanooga; grandniece, Grace Milburn (Michael) Viertel, of Chattanooga; great-grandniece, Lila McCarly Milburn; and great-grandnephew, Lawson James Milburn, of Chattanooga. She is also survived by her cousin, Mrs. Peggy McMillin Kovacevich and family, of St. Louis, Mo., Ms. Rena Lyle, of Atlanta, Ga., and Stevenson cousins in California and Montana. Ms McMillin was a descendant of the Robert Cravens family. In the course of her fathers Army career, she attended schools in Puerto Rico, Arizona, Hawaii, Minnesota and Chattanooga. She attended St. Mary's College in Raleigh, N.C., and was graduated with a music degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ms. McMillin was an art teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School, the art director at Fowlers Furniture Store, worked in the music department at Clements Furniture Store, and was a graphic designer for Double Cola and Starkeys Printing Co., from which she retired. Ms. McMillin was devoted to classical music and opera. She had a beautiful soprano voice and trained under Mme. Emmy Land-Woolf. Beginning at the age of 15, and retiring at 80, she sang with the local opera company, meeting many of the upcoming stars from the Metropolitan Opera Company as they toured. She was the longest serving member of the Chattanooga Opera company and a member of the Chattanooga Music Club. She loved and was loved by all animals. She owned horses, cats, Maltese dogs, and was a friend to woodland animals. After retirement, she volunteered at the Chattanooga Zoo, and the Tennessee Aquarium. She exhibited in horse shows, won ribbons for her Maltese dogs in the U.S. and Canada, was a member of a hiking and kite club, and took up scuba diving in her 70s. Marcia was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her friends and family. Amen A private memorial service will take place at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Chattanooga Zoo, the Community Kitchen or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 4000 Tennessee Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37409 423-821-7551. Share your memories, stories and photos at www.wannfuneralhome.com.