Joyce Lanier Milner Sterling

Joyce Lanier was raised in Atlanta with her sister Carol Lanier Goodman. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hicks and Helen Lanier and her two husbands, Gene Milner and Robert Sterling.

Joyce was a graduate of the National Cathedral School in Washington DC, followed by attendance at the University of Georgia.

Joyce and her first husband had three children, to whom they were totally devoted.

Joyce prioritized family, friends and philanthropy.

She was a member of the Cathedral of St Philip, the Atlanta Junior League, The Atlanta Forward Arts , The Peachtree Garden Club and served with honor on the Piedmont Hospital Board of Directors.

She was also a member of The Piedmont Driving Club, Cherokee Town Club; and in Palm Beach, The Everglades Club and The Bath and Tennis Club; in New York she was a member of the Colony Club, The Meadow Club and The Beach Club.

Joyce and Gene Milner established a second residence in Palm Beach FL in the early 1980s, where Joyce similarly became involved civically and philanthropically, as she donated both time and resources to many Palm Beach charities. She had a special interest in the Palm Beach Four Arts Society, on which she served as a Trustee and the Palm Beach Preservation Society for which she volunteered and chaired its annual Ball.

Following the death of her first husband, she became remarried to Robert Sterling from New York City. The Sterling’s split their time between New York, Atlanta, and Palm Beach. Mr Sterling predeceased Joyce 5 years ago.

Joyce loved her family and friends and was fiercely loyal to both. She shared a love of fashion, decorating, travel, bridge, current events and entertaining.

Joyce is survived by her children Hicks Milner; Gene Milner, Jr. and his wife Rhonda; Helen Milner Gordon and her husband John. She was devoted to her ten (10) grandchildren: John, Spencer and Grayson Gordon; Whitner (deceased), Kathryn, Cason and Scottie Milner; and Charles and Lanier Milner.

Services will be held at The Cathedral of Saint Philip Episcopal Church on Tuesday October 26 at 2pm with a reception following at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Cathedral of St Philip Episcopal Church or The Atlanta Forward Arts or the Palm Beach Four Arts Foundation.