Milton Jarnagin Sams

Milton Jarnagin Sams, 74, died on March 13 at Hospice of the Golden Isles after a valiant battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). A special thank you is extended to those care givers who were so attentive to him the last months of his life.

Born on August 1, 1951, in Athens, Georgia, to Walter Augustus Sams, Jr. and Agnes Jarnagin Sams, he was named for his maternal grandfather, Dr. Milton Preston Jarnagin. Milton graduated in 1970 from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he thrived as an athlete, lettering in football for three years and playing lacrosse. He remained a loyal supporter of the school throughout his life and never missed a class reunion. He returned to his hometown to attend the University of Georgia, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974.

Milton moved to Atlanta after graduation and became a beloved fixture of the Virginia-Highland community for more than fifty years. A gifted lighting designer, he contributed his talents to numerous films and Atlanta theater groups including 7 Stages, and he was the first board member and treasurer of PushPush Theater. His passion for the arts was boundless, and he was a devoted supporter of the Atlanta Opera, attending countless performances and events over the years.

He had a lifelong love for fishing and was an accomplished fly fisherman. His adventures took him from Patagonia and Alaska to Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, and nearly every year he made several trips to Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado with friends. A devoted member of the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club, he especially cherished the outings to “Camp Kubota.” He often ventured alone into remote wilderness areas to camp and fish, and all his friends knew that if they ever wanted a fishing partner, Milton was just a call away.

Milton had a delightful, dry sense of humor that everyone cherished. His final quip was choosing to depart this earth on Friday the 13th - a goodbye perfectly in character. Although he was not the most talkative or outgoing person, when he did speak, people stopped to listen. He was brilliant, his remarks were unforgettable, and no one wanted to miss a word. He was deeply respected, and he was also one of the kindest, gentlest, most generous, and most considerate souls one could ever know. To quote his dear friend Tim Habeger, “Milton was the best man at our wedding, and in so many ways, he was simply the best man in the room.” He will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his stepdaughters, Amy Broderick (Andy) and Isis Herrin, grandchildren Graham Olivieri, Albey Herrin and Emma Herrin, sister Dorothy Newland (Jim), brother Corky Sams, and many beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and a great-great nephew.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11AM at Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens, Georgia. A memorial gathering in Atlanta is also planned for Saturday, April 11. Details are forthcoming.