Whitner was born at Piedmont Hospital December 10, 1985 to Rhonda Dawes Milner, MD and Gene Whitner “Dusty” Milner, Jr., and was preceded in death by his grandfathers Gene Whitner “Jicker” Milner and William Alger Dawes, Jr., and step-grandfather Major General L. Render Braswell, MD.
Whitner was a 2004 graduate of Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2009, where he was a member of Chi Phi fraternity. He was an avid lacrosse player at Woodward, where he received the most improved player award as team captain his senior year. Whitner was a near scratch golfer and spent his spare time golfing, hunting, fishing, snow skiing, and boating. He also ran a half marathon with his mother without training, finishing in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Whitner was an avid spear fisherman and an accomplished free-diver who could hold his breath for 3 minutes. Whitner loved animals and was devoted to his labs, Red and Bella.
Whitner worked with his father at Milner, Inc. where he sold software solutions and was an extremely valuable asset to the company. Whitner was in the process of securing several large revenue opportunities in the Comsquared Division. His enthusiasm for his work as a 25-year old energized the company and all those who worked with him.
Whitner was a fan of Broadway musicals and attended the symphony with his mother. He loved the arts, working with the Fox Theater on its Broadway Families First outreach program. Whitner was a member of Mt. Paran Church of God where he joined with his mother last year.
Whitner is survived by his parents; his three siblings, Kathryn Lillian Milner, Cason Lanier Milner, and Helen Scott “Scottie” Milner; his grandmothers, Lillian Cox Braswell and Joyce Lanier Milner Sterling (Robert L.); uncle, Hicks Lanier Milner; aunt, Helen Milner Gordon (John C.), and cousin, Carolyn Lee Wills.
He was especially close to his first cousins, Hicks Lanier Milner, Jr., Charles A. Milner, John C. Gordon, Jr., Spencer W. Gordon, and Grayson H. Gordon.
Whitner’s Godparents are Helen Ballard Weeks, Hollis M. Lamon, and the late Charles H. Wills.
Pallbearers will be John Gordon, Spencer Gordon, Grayson Gordon, Lanier Milner, Charles Milner, Michael Crocker, William Hollis, Taylor Knox, Harrison Merrill, and James Stice. Honorary pallbearers are Michael Carter, Will Cowan, Brian Francis, Blake Haas, Porter Henritze, Easley Hooff, Allen Inman, Parker King, Austin Lamon, Terry McGuirk, Patrick McShane, Mark Olsen, Reid Olsen, Jordan Redella, Michael Schneider, Jason Stern, Jared Touchstone, Stewart Wallace, and Sanders Wallis, and so many other dear friends whom Whitner loved.
The visitation will be held at Patterson’s Spring Hill Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 20th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Services will be held at Mt. Paran Church of God on Thursday, April 21st at 2:00 P.M. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the Great Hall at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Whitner’s memory to New Leash on Life, PO Box 550049, Atlanta, GA 30355 or the Fox Theater’s Broadway Families First, c/o The Fox Theater, 660 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30308.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18