Edward Clifton "Tip" Milner

Edward Clifton ""Tip"" Milner, Jr. died on June 29, 2013.
He was born Christmas Eve December 24, 1937, in Gulfport, Mississippi. He graduated from Gulfport High in 1956. He graduated from Ole Miss with a bachelors of Business Administration degree. He worked as a football manager for three years and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Upon completing four years of Naval ROTC and graduation from Ole Miss in May 1960, he was commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Milner served two years on active duty in the Navy as a Communications Watch Officer stationed at OPNavCommo (Chief of Naval Operations) the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He served an additional 20 years in the Naval Reserves.
In 1962, he began his career at the Coast Coca Cola Bottling Company in Gulfport where he had worked during summers while attending high school and college. He was president and CEO of the Company in September, 1991, when the Company was sold to the Coca Cola Bottling Company United in Birmingham. He served nine years with United as a Division Manager before retiring in 1999, after thirty seven years.
During his business career he served on the Board of Directors of the Milner Realty Company, Coast Coca Cola Bottling Company, Inc., Gulf States Canners, Inc, Peoples Federal Saving and Loan Association, The Merchants Bank and Trust Company, the local marketing board of The Whitney Bank, The Whitney Special Market Fund, LLC. And the Main Stream Marketing Committee of The Coca Cola Company. He was Chairman of the Mississippi Council of Coca Cola Bottlers and President of the Mississippi Soft Drink Association during 1986 and 1987. Mr. Milner received the Mississippi Bottler of the Year award in 1989. He has also served on the Board of Directors of United Way and the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce. He is active in and served as President of the Gulfport Rotary Club where he is a two time Paul Harris Fellow. He was on the Board of Directors for nine years and President of the Westminster School. For two years he served as a baseball Commissioner of the Bayou View Dixie Youth league. He is on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, three term past President and Treasurer of the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center.
Mr. Milner served as District Commissioner for the Spanish Trail District Boy Scouts of America and is a Life Time Member of the Pine Burr Council Executive Board. He has served on the Friends of Scouting Pacesetter Committee, the Council Endowment Committee, the Council Long-Range Planning Committee, the Nominating Committee, and on the Camp Tiak Pre-camp Inspection Team. Mr. Milner is a recipient of the Pine Burr award and the Silver Beaver award. He was the Eagle Scout Class Honoree in 2001.
Mr. Milner belongs to numerous civic and social organizations. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gulfport.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Clifton Milner, and his mother Mildred Louise.. He leaves behind his wife Mary Lyle ; two sons Martin and Clifton; and grandchildren, Joseph Clifton, Matilda Ellie, Amanda Mae, and Clara Lyle. He is also survived by his two sisters Phyllis Hines and Mimi Smith.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the church sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Gulfport. The funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm in church sanctuary. Burial will follow the service at Evergreen Gardens Cemetery in Gulfport.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests donations to Lynn Meadows Discovery Center or Boy Scouts of America, Troop 301.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements and the online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com.