Inez Milby

On August 9, 2025, at 101.5 years of age Inez Milby "slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings" to meet Jesus and her loved ones. She was born on January 8, 1924, in Summersville, Kentucky, and was living at Charter Senior Living Facility in Gallatin, Tennessee, at the time of her death. Often in her later years, she said that she did not know why God had let her live so long; after all, she had outlived all her birth family, other relatives, and so many of her own generation.

In 1941 she married E. J. Milby, and they began building a life together in Greensburg, Kentucky. They started E. J. Milby Builders Supply, where Inez was the bookkeeper and office manager. Later when they acquired Milby Lumber and Supply in Campbellsville, Kentucky, and H. E. Shively Jewelers in Greensburg, she supervised the offices of both of those businesses and oversaw the H. E. Shively store. In 2000 she and E. J. retired and moved to Nashville to be near their daughters.

Inez had accepted Christ into her life as a child and trusted him throughout her years. A lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene, she began teaching Sunday school at age 22 and continued until age 77. She and E. J. were also active in Gideon's International.

She was involved in the Greensburg community and was honored by two Kentucky governors (one from each political party) who named her a Kentucky Colonel.

Inez and E. J. were hospitable and frequently hosted speakers for their church and other guests in their home. They enjoyed fishing and golfing together and could do both when they spent the winter months in Naples, Florida. Inez made her first and only hole-in-one when she was 89 years of age. She continued to play golf into her 90s.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her twin brothers, her husband of 62 years E. J.; daughter Rita Hernandez, granddaughter Camille Hernandez; and son-in-law William Mark Greathouse.

She is survived by daughter Janice (John) Rowlette; grandchildren Alicia (Jeff) Allyn, Matt (Laureen) Greathouse, Wes (Angelique) Greathouse; eight great-granddaughters and three great-grandsons; and two great-great-grandsons. Her descendants believe that they know why God let her live so long: She was their faithful dispenser of unconditional love and acceptance, and they had prayed that she would live for many years.