Joey Lynn Milburn

Joey L. Milburn, 64, of Harrodsburg, died of heart failure on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Hospice care at the home of his daughter in Lawrenceburg. Born October 25, 1958, Joey was the son of the late Joe and Roxie Huffman Milburn of Harrodsburg, and a life-long resident of Mercer County until the last few months when he lived in Citrus Springs, Florida with his partner, April Van Vleet.

In addition to his partner, Joey is survived by four daughters: Jessica Milburn Banner (Carl), of Simpsonville, Lauren Milburn Samuels (Ben), of Lawrenceburg, McKenna Milburn Searcy (Max), of Danville, and Tevis Milburn Aurelia (Ronin), of Danville; step-daughters, Kristin Combs Birk (George), of Lexington, and Kyleigh Combs of Gray Hawk; grandchildren, Noah and Kora Beasley, Tyler Samuels, Salem and Pearl Searcy, and Theodore Aurelia, and step-grandchildren, Madi and Simon Long, Gavin Holiday and Zane Combs, Harper and Eliot Fredericks, and Jasmyne Estes, Wyatt Banner, Waylon Banner, Ava Banner and Corbin Jaggers, along with a multitude of friends and extended family.

Joey spent his early childhood in Cornishville, then moved to Harrodsburg where he became an outstanding high school basketball player, helping to earn multiple division titles for the Mercer County Scotties during his tenure and achieving a scoring record which remained unbroken from his graduation in 1977 for nearly 30 years. He was inducted into the 12th Region Boys Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 in recognition of his 1,929 career points and 1,123 career rebounds. After high school, Joey was recruited to play for Transylvania University where he earned a BA in Health and Physical Education and ultimately a Masters degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1993.

Joey always had a heart for children and young people and so his vocational life included Director positions at both the Boy Scouts of America and Shriner’s Hospital in Lexington, but his passion was coaching basketball which he did at Jackson City Schools from 1987-1990 and in the Harrodsburg District, where he taught and coached girls basketball, then the Mercer County District, where he also taught PE and Health, coached baseball and golf, and started and developed the first certified Archery team in the district’s history. For nine years he taught in the Day Treatment Program at Harrodsburg Schools, working closely with students needing special support and encouragement, where he made a significant impact helping them achieve academic success and personal growth. He continued that work after the city and county schools merged, teaching English at Mercer Central. Joey retired from teaching in 2014 and spent much of the last few years of his life traveling and spending time with his much beloved grandchildren; he gained special joy from watching his grandson, Noah, play basketball.

Joey was a lifelong fan of Kentucky Wildcat Basketball and had a deep and abiding passion for music. He loved the beach, loved Jesus, and loved his family and will be deeply missed by those who loved him so dearly.

A memorial service will be held for Joey on Thursday, October 12, at the Mercer County Middle School gymnasium. Visitation will be from 4-6 pm followed immediately by the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriner’s Hospital in his name. The address is: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Philanthropy, 110 Conn Terrace, Lexington, Ky 40508.

Arrangements entrusted to Sims Funeral Services of Harrodsburg, KY.

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