Graveside services for Joe Frank Miller of Leland will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 14 in Leland Stoneville Cemetery. He died Wednesday, August 12, at South Sunflower County Hospital, Indianola one day before his 87th birthday. Services are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
Joe was born in Alabama the 3rd child of Velma Boyd and Joe Robert Miller. He moved at an early age with his family to Shuqualak, Mississippi, where he attended and graduated from Shuqualak High School. He then attended 2 years of junior college in Scooba, Mississippi, served 2 years in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, and finished his final 2 years of college at Mississippi State University. After graduation from MSU, Joe moved to Leland and taught in the vocational technical program at Leland High School. He met and married Shirley Hamby in 1961 and went to work for Connecticut General Life Insurance Company as a land and farm loans appraiser. He worked in this capacity for 30 plus years. After his retirement with Connecticut General, he worked as a private home and land appraiser. Joe moved to Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living in Greenville last year and kept laughter and joy a constant presence in his new home. He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, Indianola and attended First Baptist Church, Leland for the past 2 years. He was a member of the Leland Lions Club.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Katie M. Smith and Alice M. Nester, his brother, Robert Miller, and his wife of 45 years, Shirley H. Miller. He is survived by his children, Cindy M. King (Mark) of Leland, Joe Robert Miller (Gretchen) of Collierville, Tennessee, and Alicia M. Marlow (Josh Hegner) of Meridian; 7 grandchildren, Keith King (Magan), Miller King (Mary Clyde), PatMarie King, Natalie Miller, Mary Katherine Miller, David Marlow, and Anna Marlow; and 3 great-grandchildren, Sam King, Mary Waldon King, and Molly McLeod King.
A visitation will be held 10:00 – 10:50 Friday, August 14 at Boone Funeral Home, Leland. Memorials may be made to Arms of Mercy, PO Box 4691, Greenville, MS 38704, Washington School Endowment, 1605 East Reed Road, Greenville, MS 38703, or a charity of choice.
The family extends a very special thank you to the entire staff of Magnolia Gardens, private sitter, Renard Johnson, Dr. Joe Pulliam and staff of Family Medical Center, and to ICU nurse John Read, Dr. Hannah Ray and the ER staff of South Sunflower County Hospital.