of Mountain Home, AR
April 12, 1923 - December 1, 2009
Frances Juanita Wahl Milam was born April 12, 1923 in Madisonville, Tennessee to James Frank "J.F." Wahl and Zelpha Zola "Z" House Wahl and died peacefully on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 in Mountain Home, AR. She had one sister, Lillian Louisa "Billy Lou" Wahl (Hatfield). The family moved to Helena, AR in 1924 where Juanita grew up and graduated from Helena High School in 1940. She went to Hendrix College for two years then transferred to the University of Arkansas where she received her BA in Journalism in March 1944. She enlisted in the WAC that same month and served until December 1945 with the Army Air Corps as a public relations specialist in Miami Beach, Atlantic City, and Santa Ana, CA. In 1946 Juanita accepted a civilian position with the War Department in Seoul, Korea and served with the XXIV Corps Occupation's Intelligence Section. It was here she met her future husband, Ford Morrison Milam, who was later an Agricultural Attaché in the U.S. Foreign Service. After marrying, she spent the next 12 years living in various posts such as El Salvador, India, Israel, Liberia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She returned to Helena in late 1959 and was a bookkeeper for the local water company. In April 1965 Juanita accepted the position of Phillips County Welfare Director. Her considerable organizational and leadership skills helped her complete a long career until she retired in December 1987.
An avid lover of the outdoors and swimmer, she also sang with The Messiah Choral Group, the First Methodist Church Choir, and Temple Bethel in Helena.
After retirement Juanita followed her other passions, which included serving as a reporter, columnist and photographer for the Phillips County Progress newspaper, playing bridge and fulfilling a long term commitment as a Phillips County hospital volunteer. She moved to Little Rock in July 2000 and lived at Parkway Village where she took an active interest in serving as librarian, exercising her bridge skills and volunteering for local animal shelters. She moved to Mountain Home in 2007 to be close to family and enjoy the beauty of the Ozarks. Her time in Mountain Home was filled with loving interactions with family and friends, including the wonderful staff at Elmcroft assisted living community. Juanita maintained her unique personality and independence until the end in spite of her physical limitations.
She is survived by a daughter, Lisa Milam of Houston, TX; a son, Jim (Anne) Milam of Mountain Home; a grandson J.F. Milam of Mountain Home; and two nephews, Dick (Melissa) Hatfield of Roland and Ken Hatfield of Springdale. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister.
A memorial service and celebration of Juanita's life will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at Roller Funeral Home on Hwy. 5N in Mountain Home.
In honor of Juanita's love of animals, memorials may be made to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and Foundation (479-253-5841, http://www.turpentinecreek.org).
Sign Guestbook
11 Condolence(s)
James Flannagan
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Lisa and family, I am so sorry about your Mom. I admired her so much and it was a pleasure to work for her. She was a truly wonderful and amazing lady. I always credit her for giving me my first "real" job. I have such fond memories of my time at DHS under her management.
Nancy McQuary Dougherty
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Dear Jim and Family:
Please forgive my tardiness in sending this message but I actually left Little Rock to have Thanksgiving out of town and just read about your mother passing away. I love the picture and this is exactly how I remember seeing her on Sundays in the choir.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time.
Sincerely, Sissy McQuary Dougherty
Gwen Siders
Friday, December 4, 2009
i am so sorry to hear about Ms. Milam. I also worked under her in Phillips County. She introduced me by putting my whole name on the board, "Gwendolyn Kayrene Laureles King Pickle." I never have forgot what a remarkable lady and "Boss" she was. I loved her and have thrown out many times that DHS went down when she left us, we never had the organization or management of her skills from that day forward.. All of you are in my prayers, and I will always have very fond rememberances of this very wonderful lady. God Bless you all.
Steve and Gloria Thomas
Friday, December 4, 2009
Our deepest sympathies to your and your family on the loss of your mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. May your memories of her help you through this difficult time.
Mary Cunningham
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It was an honor and a privilege to work with Mrs. Milam. She hired me shortly after graduation and we worked together for twenty-three years. I don't know of anyone who could rival her work ethnic nor her compassion for her fellow man. She truly cared about people and doing what she could to help make their lives better. I've always had the greatest respect and admiration for her as she could do everything and do it well. My prayers are with her family.
Tully Hornor III
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Mrs. Milam was always a good friend when we all lived in Helena. Our condolences go out to her family.
Shirley Reynolds
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Ms Milam was a dedicated and hard worker. She also hired me right out of college. I worked for her at the Phillip's Co, Social Services pffice for 11 years. She kept us all on our toes and expected our best. She gave her best every day. She was admired and will be missed. I pray for God to comfort her family through this sad time.
Edward McMillan @ Family
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Juanita was a wonderful person and a joy to work with and be around. We are grieving with her family during this time.
Ed, Linda, Mike McMillan & Megan Tibbs
Ron Stark
Thursday, December 3, 2009
I had the privilege to work for Ms. Milam in the Phillips County Social Services office in Helena beginning in 1979 for a couple of years. I was right out of college and was utterly clueless. Everything I know that's worth knowing, I learned from Ms. Milam. I admired her integrity, her toughness, her compassion, her intelligence, her organization, and her ability to type so fast on an IBM Selectric, there was smoke coming out of it. I owe so much to her for the opportunities she gave me and the doors she opened for me. She touched many lives through her work in Helena and the surrounding communities. I am sorry she's gone.
Loyal Crawford
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Ms. Milam hired me right out of college at DHS and promoted me as a supervisor a year later. She was my mentor and taught me so much about supervision, hard work ethic, doing the right things and is definitely and will always be a hero to me. She was such an inspiration to me and a dear friend. Know my prayers are with the family and I look forward to seeing her in Heaven. Loyal Crawford, White County DHS Administrator
Janice and George Sansing
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
To Mrs Miliam's Family : We were her friends in Helena and she will truly be remembered for her great personality. Our prayers are for you during this sad time.