Ann Elizabeth Millican, 82, of Dalton, GA, passed away Monday March 2, 2015 at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Hill Millican; parents, RB and Nellie Mae Faile; and brother, Buddy Faile.
Ann Millican felt called to be a teacher, and retired from the Whitfield County school system after 33 years of teaching at Pleasant Grove, North Whitfield High and Northwest High, where she became head of the English department. She was a teacher of the year in the county and also worked with the Whitfield Education Foundation after her retirement. After retiring she was also a substitute teacher at Southeast High School, and assisted teachers and read books to students at Cedar Ridge Elementary where her daughter-in-law Allyson was principal.Although she earned many accolades, she felt more at ease mentoring and encouraging others to strive to better themselves through education and Christian living. She truly embodied Philippians 2:3," Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself." She loved teaching English to people who did not know the language, and also taught Sunday school at Trinity UMC up until the last three months of her life. An unexpected disease took her physical body, but she fought with all her strength and spirit to the end. Her favorite activities beside teaching were traveling, historical research including genealogy, cooking for her extended family and spending time with them. Her legacy in the lives of thousands of schoolchildren and adults will far outlive her eight decades here on earth, where she is greatly missed but leaves her family and friends rejoicing that she is now spending time in heaven with loved ones and her Lord Jesus Christ.
She is survived by her three sons & daughters-in-law, Mark & Teresa Millican of Cohutta, Max Millican of Dalton and Brian & Allyson Millican of Chattanooga; one brother and sister-in-law, Martin & Jo Ann Faile of Lexington, SC; and nine loving grandchildren, Shayna Calhoun, Joseph Giardina, Amy Wright, Rebecca Hankins, Andrew Smith, Stefanie Moore, Ben Millican, Katie and Claire Millican.
The funeral service to honor the life of Mrs. Millican will be held Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at Trinity UMC with Rev. Leslie Daniels, Rev. Max Caylor and Mark Millican officiating. Mrs. Millican will lie in state at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Whitfield Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the Pleasant Grove Chapel on Friday, March 6 from 5-9 p.m.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Trinity UMC of Dalton.
Funeral arrangements are by Julian Peeples Funeral Home, Pleasant Grove Chapel, in Dalton.