Iris Mae Milbourne

Iris Mae Banks was born on October 13, 1942, in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, to William McKinley Banks and Sarah Elizabeth Montague Banks. Iris attended Yeadon High School, alongside her older sister Cynthia, before graduating and enrolling in West Chester State College. While there, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In 1964, she graduated and began her post college career as a gym teacher in the Norristown School District in Pennsylvania. Iris met and married Clement Timothy Milbourne, Jr., on July 3, 1965. Together they had three children, Clement Timothy, born in 1968, Stacey Lynn, born in 1970, and Keenan McKinley, born in 1978. While Iris would note that she had many cherished moments during her life, one particular moment defined a turning point for her. It was the building of their first home in New Jersey that she, along with her husband, came into contact with the contractor who was also one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In one of the longest informal witnessing sessions, a study of the Bible began. The purpose of man’s life on earth unfolded and planted a seed in her heart when she learned who Jehovah was and what his plans were for the earth. As Iris fed and watered that love of Jehovah God, she dedicated her life in water baptism on January 29, 1970. Her joy led her to share the message with all, undeterred by inclement weather, apathy to the hopeful message in the Bible, or raising small toddlers. As a wife and mother raising children in an unpredictable world, she viewed the Bible’s message and Jesus’s sacrifice for mankind as a message of hope that could empower others with the same hope if received positively. She became an active sharer of that message throughout her life; her energetic nature to walk, tying naturally into her spiritual activities, bundling her young children into strollers in favorable and inclement weather to join her pioneer partner, Estelle Porter, in the field ministry. Iris’s lively personality was evidenced through her favorite color - red…from a red car she drove to meetings, to her field service bag, to her attire, to red lipsticks. Fondly, she was equally known for her edible gifts of cabbage salad, cheesecake and homemade wine, bread and yogurt. Her smile, her laugh and her love of people will always be something the family and friends will remember. As illness took its toll and robbed Iris of her cherished ability to recall scriptures and limited her participation in the activities she once enjoyed, she found it encouraging when many reminded her of her love of God, by talking about her style of teaching and repeating snippets of dialogue that had touched them. The recollections would make her smile. Until she sees us all again, Iris would have asked us to keep our eyes on the hope she cherished; and that she can’t wait to introduce us to those she loved and lost. Iris is survived by her husband, Clement Timothy Milbourne, Jr.; three children and two daughters-in-law: Clement Timothy III and his wife, Dorothy, Stacey Lynn, and Keenan McKinley, and his wife, Stacey Lee. She is also survived by her sister, Cynthis Lee; nephew, Alfred and his wife April and their son, Aran; nieces, Jennifer and her husband, Dondi and their son, Kahlil and Lujuanna and her husband, Scarvellas; extended family; honorary family; and precious friends that have been a part of her life.

Iris Mae Milbourne

October 13, 1942 - June 18, 2021