Minnie Colburn
Minnie Garvin McMillin Colburn died on January 7, 2021, from congestive heart failure and complications following a fall in her home.
Garvin was born April 5, 1920, to Col. Douglass Newman McMillin and Ariel Stevenson McMillin. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Marcia McMillin and her husband Charles Storey Colburn, Jr.
She is survived by her daughters, Ariel Colburn of Nashville, Celia Colburn of Lookout Mountain, Rosemary (Jim) Milburn of Lookout Mountain, Charlie (Latricia) Milburn of Ooltewah and Grace (Michael) Viertel of Chattanooga, great-grandchildren, Lila, Lawson and Avett Milburn.
Garvin was a descendant of the Robert Cravens family and Return Jonathan Meigs family. She enjoyed exploring genealogy and finding new cousins and relations.
Due to her father’s career in the U. S. Army, her family traveled extensively. She was educated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Douglas, Arizona, the Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii and was graduated from St. Mary’s Hall, Faribault, Minnesota. She was graduated from the University of Chattanooga with a B.A. degree in English and an M.Ed. degree in childhood education. At U.C. she was a member of the Delta Alpha chapter of Chi Omega and co-editor of the U.C. Echo with George Connor among other activities.
She began her educator’s career at Lookout Mountain Elementary, Booker T. Washington High School and retired from teaching at Lookout Valley High School in 1982. Over the years, many of her students still visited and kept in touch with her.
Through the years “G” enjoyed world traveling with her family and friends. She made many friends on these trips that she corresponded with for many years. She was a lifelong diarist, keeping her journals up to date from 1932 to the present time.
Garvin was a devoted member of Christ Church, Episcopal in Chattanooga. She also supported the Community of St. Mary in Sewanee, TN, as an Associate of the Community. She was a member of the International Order of St. Luke the Physician. Over the years she was a member of the Moccasin Bend Chapter D.A.R., Authors and Artists Club of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Music Club and St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
She was a founding member of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen that started at her church, Christ Church, Episcopal, 1982.
From 1982-2017, Garvin met with members of a Canasta and Board Game group monthly, then yearly to renew their friendships and engage in friendly competition. A word of advice: don’t expect to win any word games you might play with Garvin.
We wish to extend special thanks to caregivers Inez Kent and Rosemary Wagner for their care of Garvin.
Due to the pandemic there will be a small graveside service for family at Christ Church, Episcopal.
In lieu of flowers, consider sending donations to Christ Church Episcopal (663 Douglas St., Chattanooga, TN 37403) Metropolitan Ministry of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Community Kitchen (P.O. Box 11203, Chattanooga, TN 37401), Community of St. Mary (1100 St. Mary’s Lane, Sewanee, TN 37375) or the charity of your choosing.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Please share your memories, stories and photos at www.wannfuneralhome.com.