Obituary

Dwayne Gino Milton was born February 1, 1961 to Leon Cunningham Milton Sr. and Eloise Milton. He was the youngest son in a family that included 5 sisters and 4 brothers.  

Five siblings preceded him in death:  Three brothers: “Baby” George, Leon Cunningham Jr. (referred to as L.C.), and William “Billy Boy” Milton Sr.  and two sisters: Deborah Milton  and Lillian “Sugar” Prince.

Gino was a wonderful singer who graduated from Carver High School in Chicago, and often talked about his first singing lessons there and his invitation to sing for a DePaul University music scholarship. He was known for his positive thinking and resilience in challenging situations, having learned early on to never give up.   He earned an Associates Degree in Business from the University of Phoenix and after many years working in the transportation industry at  BNSF Railway, where he won several awards for safety, he launched his own trucking firm,  DGM Trucking Inc. and was a successful owner-operator for seven years.

Gino did not stop there with his life, and consistently read and talked about personal development. He was a certified relationship coach, public speaker and dedicated Toastmasters International member. At the time of his passing, he was working on a transportation invention and collaborating with other business partners to expand his enterprise.  Gino lived life to the fullest and gave 100% to all he was involved in, always reaching for more. He had extreme confidence in himself that he gained from overcoming childhood struggles.

Gino devoted himself wholeheartedly to God and the Christian faith.   He committed himself Jesus Christ, and remained true to that decision until the end of his life. He spent the better part of his life serving others at a Church of God in Chicago where he had grown up, where he sang in various positions, did mission work, counseled other men and couples, taught the youth of the "Junior" church (where he made a significant impact), and participated in their summer camps. He was talented teacher and speaker, having a natural gift. He was so engaging, that as a young man in the 1980s, the Pastor would often invite him to breakfast since he lived near by and asked him to transport and entertain out of town ministers and guests.  It was at this church that he met his wife Renee and started his family.  From the 1980s to 2018, the two worked together among this community of churches. 

Even though his death was unexpected, in the last few months of his life he talked a lot about his close relationship with God and how many aspects of his life had suddenly become very clear to him.  He had realized a great deal about who he was, his accomplishments as a husband and father and the person he had been.

Gino was a great father and a loyal husband. His family was the most important thing in his life. He loved giving his kids encouragement to reach their goals.  He often talked about building personal ties with each of his children, which he did brilliantly. He was known for talking about how much he loved his wife. Their last conversation finished with "I love you too," and her voice was the last one he heard. It was a beautiful end to a beautiful love story and a life well lived.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife Renee Olivia (Hester) Milton,  his two sons, Ellis Grant and Michael Alexander; one daughter Sydney Lauren; one granddaughter Laia Renee; four siblings (Constance Milton Carroll, Darren Dino Milton (Barbara Ann), Alison Richardson (Tommy) and Dionne Spiller (Erwin).  Nieces: Dionne, Lauren, Candice, Amie, Denee, Jamie,  Porsche, Erica and Amelia; Nephews: John (wife Sandy), Terrence, William Jr., Christopher Huff and Charles Freeman, a sister in law Pamela  Hester, and a beloved cousin Barbara and her children.