Grayce Wilma Clements Millican

Grayce Wilma Clements Millican went home to be with Christ on Monday, September 11, 2006. She died at home in Cleveland, TN with her family in attendance. Grayce was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Dorcas Sunday school Class. She was born in Walker County, Alabama on September 21, 1916. Her parents, W. O. Clements and Mada Gabbert Clements owned funeral homes in Birmingham, which explains her interest in mortuary science. She was graduated in 1934 with a degree in the art and science of funeral directing and embalming from Gupton-Jones College on West End Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. Her life was always an inspiration to others. She was the first female licensed embalmer in the state of Alabama. She worked as an embalmer until her marriage to Carter James Millican in 1940. Carter was with the L&N Railroad, so they moved around a great deal during her life, including one time when they lived in a boxcar at the rail station. She was an ovarian cancer survivor. She always faced her trials with a smile and a quiet dignity that made people wish to emulate her. She was very active in her church serving for many years as an outreach member mailing personal notes and cards to friends and members of the Church. She participated in her community through the ICU Sandwich Ministry at Bradley Memorial Hospital. She loved to travel. In fact she had traveled to all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. She loved to do crafts and shared her love with others. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carter, in 1978 and her sons John Millican in 1943 and Carter James Millican, Jr. in 1945. Her daughter, Linda "Pug" Franks with her son-in-law Jerry Franks; two granddaughters- Cindy Franks of Norcross and Leesa Franks of Cleveland; and her niece Donna Curtis of Nashville survive her. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with The Dr. Allan Lockerman officiating. She requested her dear friend Marge Lee along with the Dorcas Sunday school Class of the First Baptist Church be an honorary pallbearer. She will be interred at Oakland Cemetery, in Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. with the Reverend Bob Pruitt officiating.