Lorena Mae Milam

Lorena Mae (Cochran) Milam, 91, of Lester, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, entered Heaven's Gates on Saturday, March 7, 2020.
Born March 26, 1928, in Lester, Raleigh County, WV, she was the daughter of the late
Noah Edward Cochran and Mandy Ellen (Greer) Cochran.
Lorena was a member of the First Church of God, Lester WV. She served the Lord in many different
capacities within the church, starting back in the early 1970's. She served as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader and Treasurer.
Lorena also helped with her husband's calling to be an evangelist and with his radio broadcast Wake To Truth, on WJLS. Lorena would prepare country cooking and desserts for the practice sessions of the “Gulf Gospel Trio” and sang with the group. Lorena helped her husband in preparation for his sermons and callings as an evangelist. In her studies of the bible, Lorena wrote down many of her thoughts and reflections. Often times, her husband would use these as the basis for a sermon or as highlights in the sermon. In addition to helping her husband with his callings, she also owned and operated two community stores in Lester.
Lorena was a loving mother and homemaker with a quick wit. She most enjoyed spending time with her children, extended family and friends. She especially liked cooking for large family gatherings around the holidays. Lorena brought SO much love and joy to her family and friends living her life they way she did.
Lorena, a life long native of Lester, WV. was preceded in death by her loving husband and lifelong companion of almost 70 years, Herbert Henry Milam, her brothers Alvin, Leonard and Melvin Cochran, an infant sister who passed away as a baby in 1918 and two great-grandchildren, Austin McCafferty and Skyler Taylor. We can't imagine Lorena's joy in heaven re-uniting with her husband and meeting her sister and two great-grandchildren for the first time.
Lorena is survived by her loving children, Barry (Jennifer), Randy (Sharon) and Rhonda (Kevin, her favorite son-in-law) Canterberry, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Elain, Kevin, April (Jon), Heather (Jerry), Justin, Warren, Caiden, Devin and Cole.
Lorena loved to work outside around her house, tending to plants, trees, shrubs, bushes and her flower gardens. She loved taking starts from one plant and trying to get a second plant to grow, not only for herself, but for others also. Lorena also liked to spend time at camp, on the river, where she would tend to the same things as she did at home. Perhaps her favorite activity at camp was to burn piles of leaves and sticks. She loved every part of living on a farm, from canning to pickling corn. She loved to crochet afghans, ornaments and silly things that would make people around her laugh. She treasured reading bible stories and teaching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren about the Lord. She truly enjoyed helping the children with their homework, especially spelling. Lorena never lost the love of learning new things, as she learned how to use a computer and even Facebook, in her latter days. She wrote three songs later in life, however she wrote many poems and thoughts throughout all her life.
Lorena was an exemplary matriarch of her family. Other than the Lord, she spent her life putting family first. She will be remembered fondly for taking care of her family and others, her laughter, generosity and always having a homemade dessert very close by. Lorena will be greatly missed by her family including nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, along with all who knew her.
Please join us in our celebration of life services, remembering and honoring Lorena at 1 PM on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at Calfee's Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Dale Birchfield. Visitation will be 6 PM to 9 PM on Wednesday evening. Pall Bearers Kevin Canterberry II, Kevin Canterberry Sr., Justin Milam, Jon Tayler and Jerry Flora.
In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be sent to: Victory Baptist Academy, P.O. Box 549, Beaver, WV 25813. Mark checks with “in honor of Lorena Milam”.


Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home.