Stephen Milner

Longtime Greenville, SC, resident, Stephen D. Milner, died July 7, 2020, at the age of 67 after complications from surgery at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Stephen “Steve” Douglas Milner, son of the late Newman Ray Milner and Edith Tate Milner, was born February 23, 1953, in Waynesville, Haywood County, North Carolina, where he grew up.  The youngest child of three, Steve had two older sisters, Patricia Rae Milner (deceased) and Regina Milner Haynes of Waynesville.  Steve grew up in Antioch Baptist Church in Waynesville, where he grew in his faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.   Steve attended Pisgah High School, graduating in 1971.

Exhibiting great athletic talent, Steve played basketball, baseball, and football at Pisgah, He achieved an exemplary high school sports career setting many records that still stand today.  His senior year statistics prove his versatility.  In football he rushed 453 yards, passed for 292 yards, and had 3 receptions for 37 yards.  In basketball, he grabbed 235 rebounds and scored 307 points while shooting 45% from the field.  In baseball, Steve was 4-2 as a pitcher, striking out 47 batters in 49 innings.  His ERA was 1.86 with a batting average was .353.  He was inducted into the Pisgah Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.  Steve was offered numerous athletic scholarships to various schools; however, being a fan of the ACC, Duke University’s offer caught his attention.  He elected to attend Duke University on a football scholarship, playing all four years.  In 1973, Steve married his high school sweetheart, Karen Rogers, of Clyde, North Carolina, the summer before his junior year, and she joined him in Durham.

Steve Milner graduated from Duke University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting.  After graduating, Steve went on to earn his Certified Public Accountant certification and began working for Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell, an accounting firm, first in Greensboro, North Carolina, and later in Edmond, Oklahoma.  After moving to Greenville in 1984, Steve worked for other firms before starting his own accounting firm, Stephen D. Milner, CPA. in 1985, a firm which he ran successfully for 35 years in Greenville.

Upon moving to Greenville, Steve and Karen became active members of Edwards Road Baptist Church, where Steve served in various capacities.  He used his accounting abilities to serve on the church’s finance committee for many years.  He also served as the treasurer of his neighborhood HOA for many years.

Steve’s love of sports carried on with his children as he both coached and cheered them on in their different sports as they were growing up.  In the later years, you could find him supporting his son while he coached basketball at a collegiate level as well as supporting his grandchildren as they participated in sports.  A favorite trip that Steve planned each year was taking the family to the ACC basketball tournament.

Steve Milner was devoted to his wife Karen, to his children and grandchildren, and to his extended family in North Carolina.  When he was not at his office working, he was with his family.  Steve will be remembered for his generosity to friends and relatives, for his friendliness and warmth, and for his devotion to his Savior Jesus Christ.   Steve went to be with his Lord on July 7, 2020, in the presence of his loving wife Karen and their three children.

Steve is survived by his wife, Karen Rogers Milner of Greenville; his mother, Edith Tate Milner of Waynesville, North Carolina; his sister, Regina Haynes (m. James F. Haynes) of Waynesville; two daughters: Michele "Cheley" Milner McDowell (m. Shamgar E. McDowell) of Simpsonville and Stephanie Milner Elrod (m. W. Glenn Elrod) of Anderson; a son, Joshua Lewis Milner (m. Erin Sweatt Milner) of Greenville; and six grandchildren:  Benaiah (18), Aletheia (17), Phinehas (14), Elijah (10), and Shiloh (6) of Simpsonville, and Grant (1) of Anderson.

Steve’s funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2020 at Antioch Baptist Church with the Reverend Aaron Rayburn officiating.  Steve will lie in state from 1:00 until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

In memory of Steve, memorials may be made to Taylors Free Medical Clinic at 400 W. Main Street, Taylors, SC 29687 or Edwards Road Baptist Church at 1050 Edwards Road, Greenville, SC 29615.

The care of Steve has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.