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Cynthia Cooper Milliken

December 26, 1937 ~ January 17, 2026

Born in: New York, New York
Resided in: Gainesville, Florida

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Cynthia “Cinni” Cooper Milliken, 88, of Gainesville, Florida passed away at home on January 17, 2026. She spent her last days surrounded by her beloved family and friends and her dog, Phoebe.

She was our sage and our muse. She was a den mother to so many and a kind and generous comfort to everyone she loved and who loved her. She brought people together and was always open to learning new ideas (except when it involved technology!).

After opening the Hardback Cafe with her children in 1989, Cinni’s house became the go-to place on Sundays for softball, potluck, and bonfires. Her brother Burnham was often in attendance and became a family fixture for all the friends. After she sold the Hardback, she decided to go back to college to complete the undergraduate degree that she started after moving to Florida to attend Stetson University at age 18. She completed an Associate’s Degree at Santa Fe College and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Florida in 2005 at age 67. She went on to become an adult literacy tutor to help others learn the beauty of reading.

Cinni was an avid gardener, a voracious reader, and was a well known coffee enthusiast in her earlier years. Crafting was one of her favorite hobbies. Her pursuit of making perfect elderberry jelly involved multi-generations of her family. Visits and her daily phone calls with her sister, Charlee, brought her joy. She was the keeper of her family’s memories and history. She loved all animals, particularly her dogs and kept her house full of furry friends. She was always down-to-earth and unpretentious, qualities much appreciated by the people in her life. She will be greatly missed.

Cinni was born in New York City in 1937 and grew up in Pound Ridge, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio before moving to Florida. Her passing was preceded by her parents, Alan Mills Cooper and Eleanor Dickinson Cooper, her brothers, Alan Cooper and Burnham Cooper and her grandson, Blake. She is survived by her beloved children, Alan, Eric, Tina, and Steve and daughter-in-law Jessica, best friend and sister Charlee, grandchildren, Brandon, Jefferson and granddaughter-in-law Celia, Julia, Trevor, Vivienne, Brooke, Taylor and grandson-in-law Dustin, Stephen, and Mariah, eight, soon to be nine, great grandchildren, and the Song and Cooper families.

Call family for more information as all friends and family will be invited.

Cinni donated for decades to organizations dedicated to the advocacy, care, and protection of domestic animals and wildlife. If you would like to donate in her memory to these charitable organizations, the links are provided below.

Humane World for Animals

Memorial Gifts | Tribute Donations| Send a Card | ASPCA

Give a Tribute or Memorial Gift | National Wildlife Federation

Crevasse’s Simple Cremation is honored to serve Cynthia’s family

 

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  1. Cinni was loved by everyone—kind, patient, and always willing to give people the chance to become better versions of themselves. She never judged; instead, she welcomed everyone with open arms and an open heart. I was never really one to give out hugs, but she always made sure I got one—even when I was unsure. One of the greatest things she taught me, and something I now carry with me, is to always say “I love you” when saying goodbye or farewell—words I rarely heard before her.
    If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be part of this family. She brought Jefferson and me together, and because of that, we have Micah. Now I have a family of my own and a mother-in-law who is as kind and caring as she was. Her love lives on through all of us. She will be deeply missed, always remembered, and forever loved.

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  2. Cinnie was one of the best people I’ve ever met in my career as a caregiver. From the first day I came into her home to assist her, I knew I wanted her to be my permanent client. Her genuine, warm smile lit up her home, and I felt nothing but love. She was more than a client to me; she became a bonus grandmother, and I enjoyed every moment I shared with her. From our meals together to our talks and moments of sitting outside enjoying nature (she loved the outdoors), she even helped me develop a deeper appreciation for nature and animals. I will miss her so much. Even after my time as her caregiver ended, she became family to me, and I appreciate how she embraced me, gave me advice and words of wisdom, and, most importantly, told it like it is. I’m so honored to have encountered such a beautiful soul.

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  3. It’s taken me some time to put my thoughts into words. Gosh I sure do miss you so much. I struggle without your wisdom nowadays. Boy, I sure could talk your ear off right about now. And you would just listen. So patiently. So kind. So caring. The love you had for me, and my family, my husband, and my children, I will make sure they always feel that love from you. Little miss Lainey will never get to meet you, but she will always know how special you were to me when we talk about her middle name being Cooper. You would have loved that. I can’t think of a better way to honor the best grandma a girl could ever have. I hope to be half the grandma you were to me, to my grandkids someday. I love you so so much and will always continue to talk about you to anyone who will listen.

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    • She would love her name, she would love Lainey just like the rest of them.
      She was the most kind human, never judged even if you felt like she was, she was just trying to give you a different perspective something I don’t learn about her until I was an adult, and I will always regret not realizing that sooner. I tried to visit every time I was down, and I’ll never forget the time we surprised her and called ahead and made sure she’d be home but told her I made a quick trip down and just didn’t have time to see her. She was so disappointed, and then surprised lol. We just hung out at the house and watched all of the kids play on the piano, and she never once complained. Just smiled and enjoyed every moment of it. Soaking it all in. I strive everyday to be more kind more open minded more patient with the world around me and the people in it because of her. Her love for you for the kids for me and my kids for the people around her. For strangers, will always be known, because she instilled that into us. Love you grandma miss you more than words can explain.

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  4. Cinni was my Aunt I used to get too spend my summers with Aunt Cinni at her home in Gainesville out in the country with all her dogs and she would let me drive her car around the property and go do thing around town and get too hangout at the Hardback Cafe her and Cousin Alan ran. She was always loved and will be missed RIP Aunt Cinni

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  5. You were so loved by everyone you met, I love to say she could makes friends with a wall, we couldn’t go anywhere without her knowing someone. you had so much love and wisdom to give to everyone . You never judged anyone and also lended an ear to listen and the best advice you could give. You made sure that no one stayed mad at anyone and that we all mended. You were and always will be the family’s matriarch the one that anyone could turn to no matter the situation and you always helped everyone even if it was never returned. We will never forget our countless days at your house, spending hours playing trivial pursuit and always kicking our butts at it, or sitting at the table making little pinecone bird feeders and all the holidays you put together that felt so special, and getting older and sitting at the table and just talking for hours with you. We couldn’t have asked for a better more loving grandmother. Manaw we love you and will never forget you.

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