Obituary of Marcia McMillin

Marcia McMillin died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. She was the daughter of the late Col. Douglass Newman McMillin of Lookout Mtn, TN and Ariel Stevenson McMillin originally of Gadsen, Al. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Garvin McMillin Colburn of Lookout Mtn, 3 nieces, Ariel F. Colburn of Nashville, I. Cecilia Colburn of Lookout Mtn, and Rosemary C. (Jim) Milburn of Lookout Mtn, 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, TN. 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 father`s Army career, she attended schools in Puerto Rico, Arizona, Hawaii, Minnesota and Chattanooga. She attended St. Mary's College in Raleigh, NC 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 Fowler`s Furniture Store, worked in the music department at Clements Furniture Store, and was a graphic designer for Double Cola and Starkey`s 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 70`s. 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.