Susan Ann Milam

Susan Ann Storey Milam, 78, of Macon, Georgia, passed away on January 1, 2026. Born on December 3, 1947, in Newnan, Georgia, Susan lived a life defined by faith, perseverance, service, and an abiding love for her family and the world around her. Susan was raised in the Welcome community of Newnan as the only child of Robert and Jimmie Storey, whom she adored and carried in her heart throughout her life. From an early age, her faith was her foundation. She was active in 4-H, Tri-Hi-Y, Future Homemakers of America, garden club, and her childhood churches, Elim Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Newnan. She spent joyful summers at Rock Eagle 4-H Camp and Camp Pinnacle. Susan attended Western High School in Coweta County, where she was a cheerleader, editor of the school newspaper, and graduated in 1965. At Western High School, Susan met her classmate and high school sweetheart, Mallory Stanton Milam, Sr. They were married on August 29, 1965, at Elim Baptist Church, beginning a lifelong bond. Early in their marriage, Susan lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and Albany, Georgia, while her husband served in the U.S. Navy, frequently traveling home to Newnan to be near the family she cherished so deeply. During this time, Susan survived a devastating automobile accident that left her hospitalized in critical condition. Though the resulting complications remained with her throughout her life, she faced them with extraordinary courage, resilience, and grace. Susan and Stanton raised their children in Newnan, Georgia, and later in Dublin, California. Susan was a devoted and engaged mother who encouraged curiosity, education, and a broad understanding of the world. Civically minded and passionate about public service, she served as a Georgia Delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention, an experience made especially meaningful when President Jimmy Carter invited the Georgia delegates to the White House for dinner-a memory she treasured for the rest of her life. In 1982, the family relocated to Dublin, California, following Stanton's transfer with AT&T. Though far from the home she loved, Susan met the challenge with characteristic determination. She returned to college and earned an Associate of Arts in Humanities from Los Positas College, a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a minor in Human Development from California State University, Hayward, and later a master's degree in education from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. Susan devoted her professional life to education and service. In Georgia, she worked for the Coweta County Board of Education and taught kindergarten at First Baptist Church in Newnan. In California, she served as a College and Career Advisor at Dublin High School and with the Tri-Valley Regional Occupational Program. After returning to Georgia in 1998, she held numerous leadership and instructional roles, including Executive Director of Communities in Schools for the Bibb County School System, Children's Director at Wesleyan Drive Baptist Church, Language Arts Instructor at Wesleyan College, and consultant for 21st Century Communities in Schools with the Georgia Department of Education. She also served St. Joseph's Catholic School and Saint Peter Claver Catholic School, where she worked faithfully during the last years of her career. Over the years, Susan led countless workshops and trainings, always guided by compassion and a genuine desire to uplift others. Susan served in many leadership roles throughout her life, including PTA President at Western School, WMU President of the Western Baptist Association, President of the Welcome Garden Club, Secretary of the Coweta County Democratic Party, President of the California Association of Regional Occupational Programs, President of the California School Employees Association, and President of P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter Q, where she formed cherished lifelong friendships and supported philanthropic efforts advancing women's education. A woman of deep faith, Susan was a dedicated member of Vineville Baptist Church in Macon and later served joyfully within the Catholic school community. She was lovingly known as Ms. Susan at Saint Peter Claver Catholic School, a name that followed her from her very first teaching position at First Baptist Church in Newnan. She adored teaching second-grade social studies and had a gentle gift for helping her students see and appreciate the beauty, history, and uniqueness of their home state of Georgia. Her faith informed every aspect of her life and sustained her through joy and hardship alike. Susan had a profound love for travel and a genuine appreciation for people and cultures around the world. She journeyed to Australia, England, and France, drove to Canada, and crossed the United States four different times by both car and train. Always ready for the next adventure, she approached each journey with curiosity and joy and was already planning a long-anticipated trip to Africa later this year, along with another train journey to New York-testaments to her lifelong desire to explore, learn, and embrace the beauty of the world and its people. Family was the heart of Susan's life. She played an integral role in helping raise her grandchildren in Georgia and traveled often to California to spend treasured time with family there. Known lovingly as Grandma, Lizzie Grandma, and Guppy, she was, above all else, love itself. Her personal motto captured her spirit perfectly: "I'm not going to let this get me down. I'm going to figure this out." She lived those words daily, meeting life with optimism, quiet strength, and unwavering resolve. Susan also found joy in theater, books, gardening, her beloved Bichon Frise Sophie, Mercer football, and-most of all-watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and thrive. Susan is survived by her children: Elizabeth Ellen-Kate "Liz" Milam; Dr. Mallory Stanton "Chip" Milam, Jr. (Dr. Emily Sikking); and Charlotte Renee Storey (Michele). She was a devoted grandmother to Hannah Milam Rowell (Dylan), Hugh Milam, Maddie Milam, and Annalise Milam, and a cherished great-grandmother to Emery Fordham and Zeppelin Rowell and her loving cousins Junie Austin Merkle, Jennifer Austin Beker (Herschel), Jo Austin Farmer (Mitt), Janice Milam Grice (Merritt). She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Jimmie Storey; grandparents Alton and Annie Austin Smith, and Jimmie and Willie Luckie Storey,; her beloved aunts, Florine Smith and Ellen Johnson. Susan Ann Storey Milam's life was a testament to faith, perseverance, service, and unconditional love. Her kind and forgiving spirit, her radiant smile, and her deep love of the Lord transformed the lives of all who knew her. She will be forever missed and lovingly remembered by those who were blessed to walk alongside her. The funeral service celebrating Susan's life is Saturday, January 10, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of McKoon Funeral Home, 38 Jackson Street, in Newnan. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.mckoon.com. McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory 770-253-4580

Susan Ann Milam

December 3, 1947 - January 1, 2026