Edmund Dandridge Milam,

Milam, Edmund Dandridge (Dan), Sr. - Died peacefully on June 13, 2014 at age 86. A lifelong Nashvillian, Dan was born October 13, 1927, to John S. Milam and Mildred M. Milam. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Millie Milam Murphy, and two brothers John S. Milam, Jr., and L. Moore Milam. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Justine Winn Milam, and their five children: Edmund Dandridge (Martha) Milam, Jr., of Durham, N.C., James W. (Cindi) Milam of White House, Justin T. (Maureen) Milam, Christopher M. (Liza) Milam, and Dr. Mary Frances (Joe) Kerr, all of Nashville; Also survived by ten grandchildren: Allison Milam, Justin “Jay” (Jen) Milam, Jr., Lt. Caroline Milam, USAF, Tacoma, WA; Katherine Milam, James Milam, Michael Milam, Molly Milam, Matthew Milam, Kathleen and Anna Kerr; sister-in-law Margaret Milam, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dan attended Stokes School and graduated from Duncan Preparatory School in 1945. After completing his freshman year at Vanderbilt University where he joined Sigma Chi fraternity, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was part of the American occupation forces in Japan following World War II. In 1948, he returned to Vanderbilt, graduating with an Engineering degree. He married Justine Winn and immediately entered the family optical business where he spent his lifes work, retiring in 2011. Under his leadership, Milam Optical grew from a single dispensary on Church Street to seven locations at one point. He was kind and generous to his patients, often serving successive generations from the same family. He was a leader in the retail optical business, and probably trained more opticians during the prime of his career than anyone else in Middle Tennessee. He was selected as Optician of the Year in 2004 by the Tennessee Dispensing Opticians Association and was presented the Melvin Jones Award in 1992 by the Downtown Lions Club. He was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church filling many offices there including Elder, Deacon, Sunday School superintendent, and teacher for many years. He was a charter member of Hillwood Country Club. Dan possessed a keen mind, often engaging his children and later his grandchildren in discussions about history, religion, literature, or any other subject they were studying in school. He was devoted to his God, his family, and his work and gave his best to them all. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Justin D. Towner, III, Dr. John H. Coles, Dr. John B. Bond, Jr., Dr. Jim Hamilton, John G. Justice, James Willis Suggs, L. Marbut Gaston, and all employees of Milams Optical Service and John S. Milam Optical Co. Active pallbearers are Jay Milam, James Milam, Michael Milam, Gregory Davis, Sam Sourignavong, Michael Smith, and Bill Harbison. Funeral services will be held Monday, June 16, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Road with Dr. Samuel M. Cooper officiating, with private burial to follow at Spring Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, June 15, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Cheek House of the Church; and on June 16 for one hour before the funeral. The family would like to express deepest thanks to special caregivers Valerie Coleman, Liza Milam, Rhonda Cook, Judy Kerr, Kimberly Boyd, and Alicia Smith, and the staff at Woodcrest. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Downtown Nashville Lions Club, P.O. Box 190581, Nashville, TN 37219, Nashville Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203; Middle Tennessee Council, BSA, 3414 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215, or Shriners Hospital, 1900 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40502. ARRANGEMENTS BY AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME 615-672-5000

Edmund Dandridge Milam,

October 13, 1927 - June 13, 2014