David Wallace Milner, Sr.

Reverend David Wallace Milner, Sr. passed from this life on May 9, 2025. He was 73 years old.

Born on April 5, 1952, at Cherry Street Hospital in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, David was the oldest child born to Grover Wallace (G.W.) Milner and Josie Pearl (Davidson) Milner. He had one brother, Daniel Glenn, and a sister, Anna Dolene. Because his father was an itinerant minister, throughout his early childhood the family moved frequently, living in various towns in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri. However, by the mid 1960’s, the family had made its way to Clifton, Texas where G.W. had assumed the pastorate of a congregation.

In 1967 while attending a church youth camp, David met his soon-to-be wife Jeanine Dennard when he walked up to her and asked, “Have you been looking for me?” They began dating and were married on May 30, 1969, in Waco, Texas.

The couple welcomed their first child (David, Jr.) in April of 1970 and a daughter (Paige) in October of 1972. It was during this time when the young family moved from the Houston area to Whitehall, Arkansas where David had been called to serve as the pastor of a small church. After nine months in Arkansas, David moved the family to Dublin, Texas where he had been selected as the pastor for another congregation. Then, in 1975, David accepted an invitation to pastor a church in Glen Rose, Texas. The family remained there for over a decade.

Because the churches that he pastored had small congregations, he earned a living in construction work – building cabinets and installing interior trim and ultimately working as a general contractor and building houses. Perhaps, what he would consider his greatest ministerial accomplishment was the construction of a new church building for the congregation in Glen Rose; although during that timeframe, he was also very active with the youth department of the Texas District of the United Pentecostal Church.

In 1988, the family moved to the Atlanta-metro area of Georgia. It was there that David continued his work in the residential construction industry – working for companies such as D.R. Horton, Signature Homes, and ultimately Haven Properties where he became Vice President of Operations. It was also during this time that he returned to ministry, serving as an associate pastor at Open Bible Tabernacle in Marietta, Georgia.

Upon his retirement from the construction industry, David and Jeanine moved to Elberton, Georgia where Jeanine had taken a job as a nursing home administrator. They became involved with the Flatwoods Pentecostal Holiness Church where he was asked to teach Sunday school -an assignment which he continued until his recent decline in health.

Throughout his life, he was a quick-study and an independent thinker with a thirst for knowledge. There was never a time when he didn’t have a book that he was reading, and he was always eager to discuss his latest insights. Until shortly before his passing, his daily routine involved reading and studying the Bible for several hours per day.

In the last few weeks, he demonstrated a calm and assured knowing that he was soon to be called “home” and he was steadfast in his resolve to meet the call with strength and dignity. He reaffirmed his faith in Jesus Christ to all who visited him during his final days and by doing so, he left us one final lesson. By his example, he showed us all that faith can lead us from this life into the next.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Josie and G.W., as well as his brother, Danny.

David is survived by his sister, Anna Dolene Twomey, his wife of 56 years, Melba Jeanine (Dennard) Milner, two children, David Wallace Milner, Jr and his wife Stephanie Milner and Margaret LaPaige (Milner) Walker and her husband Dwayne Walker. He had five grandchildren, David Wallace (Trey) Milner III and his wife Kassie Milner, Nolan Keith Harwell, Josie Nicole Dial and the latest addition to the family, Eleanor Layne Milner. He had three great-grandchildren, Jett Emerson Milner, Ivy Marie Milner and Everett Alexander Milner as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends.

A life celebration service will be held at Flatwoods Pentecostal Holiness Church on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 2pm.

To send condolences or flowers please address to 173 Brookside Drive, Elberton, Georgia 30635.

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton, Georgia is assisting the family of Mr. David Wallace Milner, Sr.