Katherine S Milnor

passed away on March 28, 2026 after a long illness.

She was born in Rye, NY, to Katherine and Eli Baxter Springs

on December 27, 1928. At the age of 10, she moved with her

family to a farm, “Springfield,” in Mecklenburg County, NC.

During her early years, she was a student at Myers Park

Elementary School and sometimes rode her horse ten miles each

way to attend. At thirteen, she went to Chatham Hall School in

Chatham, VA, where she graduated in 1946. She continued and

completed her education at Sweet Briar College in 1950.

She was an avid horseback rider, at times riding side saddle, and

enjoyed fox hunting in Virginia.

In 1951, she married Jack Herbert Shannon of Birmingham, AL.

In the late 1950s, Jack and Tink built over 17 houses in the

Briarcliff, Brookwood, and Old Leeds neighborhoods of

Mountain Brook, AL. She was the architect and designer for

each property. During this time, they had three children, Jack,

Katherine (Bibi), and Lela (Lele).

In 1986, she moved to Memphis, TN, where she met and

married Martin Joseph Lichterman. Their life together included

riding horses on his farm in Moscow, TN, and enjoying his

home in San Miguel, Mexico, where she sculpted in clay and

actively participated in the local church and community. Martin

predeceased Tink in 1992.

In 1996, she married Dr. John Pervis Milnor Jr., with whom she

spent 21 happy years, dividing their time between Memphis,

TN, and Johns Island Club, Vero Beach, FL. They enjoyed

playing bridge and entertaining family and friends at home, on

the tennis courts, golf course, and by the river, fishing.

Following the death of Pervis in 2017, Tink returned to

Birmingham.

Mrs. Milnor was a member of the Junior League, the Garden

Club of America, the Johns Island Garden Club, the Memphis

Country Club, the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club, and Mountain

Brook Club. St. John’s Episcopal Church (Memphis) and Saint

Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Birmingham) were her home in

worship.

She was predeceased by her parents, Katherine Wooten Springs

and Eli Baxter Springs, and her brother, Eli Baxter Springs Jr.,

all of Charlotte, NC. She is survived by her children, Jack

Shannon Jr. (Elizabeth), Katherine Owens, Lele Low (Michael),

and her grandchildren Neal Owens (Addison), Katherine Felice-

Owens (Oliver), Shannon Low Denny, Charlie Low (Kathleen),

and her great-grandchildren Mary Stuart Low, Wesley Low, and

Comer Owens.

Tink always loved having extended family share time with her.

She adored her stepchildren, their spouses, and stepgrandchildren:

Martin Lichterman, John Lichterman, James Lichterman, Mimi Graves, Ellen Gardner, Billy Lichterman, Burton Milnor, Margaret Mallory, Walker Milnor, Pervis Milnor III (deceased), Chelsea Rinnig, and Cameron Rappaport. She was hugely blessed by her loving nieces and nephews, who also visited and kept up with her regularly. The family wishes to thank Carmen Hodge, Blanche Scott, and Chatay McGee for their loving care, compassion, and support over the last few years.

A memorial service will be held at 2p.m. on Wednesday, April

1st, 2026 at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, with a reception

to follow in the Gathering Space.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Threshold Center

c/o Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 3775 Crosshaven Drive

Birmingham, AL 35223