James Clifford Miller, Sr., age 83, of Lavonia, GA, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at his home.
James was born on February 12, 1940 in Franklin County’s Red Hill Community to the late Clifford and Sara Dendy Miller. He attended elementary schools in Franklin and Hart County. He was a 1958 Graduate of Eastanollee High School, where he met his future wife, Jackie Walker. He attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega for one semester and decided college life was not for him, so he joined the Army Reserves. Doing his reserve duties one weekend a month and two weeks during the summer, he also worked at Colonial Stores in Toccoa. September 2, 1961, he went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Jackie Walker Miller. James and Jackie had six children over the years, two infant sons died. They started out in Toccoa and then transferred and moved with Colonial Stores/Big Star over the years living in Hartwell, Conyers, Gainesville, and settling in Oakwood for 17 years. He was store manager in two Gainesville Stores, Brown’s Bridge Road and Thompson Bridge Road. In 1982 he left Big Star for an exciting adventure, being a founding partner in Quality Foods in Commerce and opening more stores in Lawrenceville, Winder, Anderson, SC, Sugar Hill, Cornelia, Toccoa, Monroe, Hartwell, and Greer, SC. In 1990 they bought a “weekend” lake house on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia and never returned to Oakwood (they left the kids there, lol).
James was an avid Georgia Bulldog Fan traveling near and far with season tickets to regular, playoff, and championship games. He even had his “famous” BULLDAWG BARK! James loved his family and showed it in so many ways! Lots of family and company trips, whether it just be to Myrtle Beach, Daytona Beach, Amelia Island, San Destin, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, or cruises and flights to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal, Greece, London, Scotland, Switzerland, and Spain and some surely left off. He was always ready, all you had to do was say GO!
In 2006 they bought a “weekend” mountain house in Clayton. They spent a lot of time there but didn’t fully leave Lavonia Presbyterian Church where they were members and very active. James sang in the choir and they, along with two other couples, were instrumental in starting a mobile food pantry for Franklin and Hart counties. James was a member of the Toccoa Masonic Lodge #309.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Cliff and Sara Miller; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jack and Ruth Walker; brother, David Miller, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Laura and Joe Scott, Jane and Ken Burns; his son, Jimmy Miller; infant sons, Bret Miller and Jeffrey Miller; and his niece Michell Miller.
James is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Jackie Walker Miller; daughters and son-in-law, Debie Miller and Stanley Cooper and Sonya and Lee Best all of Braselton; son and daughter-in-law, Stanley and Jamie Miller of Lavonia; grandchildren, Cliff Best, Justin and Kimberly Best, Ashley and Adam Cave, Kelsey and T J Mobley, Avery Miller, and Eric Miller; great-grandchildren, Bailee Best, Maxley Best and Raylee Best, Sydney Cave and Caroline Cave, Sawyer Mobley and Walker Mobley; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Ann and Ron Whiten and Sara Jane and Ralph Kellar all of Greenville, SC; sister-in-law, Cathy Miller of Gainesville; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 2pm – 4pm and 6pm – 8pm Saturday, April 15, 2023 and from 1pm - 1:45pm Sunday, april 16, 2023.
Funeral services will be held at two o’clock Sunday, April 16, 2023 from the Chapel of Whitlock Mortuary with the Rev. Jennifer Horton officiating.
Burial will follow at Stephens Memorial Gardens.
Cliff Best, Justin Best, Eric Miller, Larry Kotal, Cory Kotal, Greg Mize, Rodney Scott, and Greg Thaxton will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to the Diabetes Foundation, https://diabetes.org/, or to the Lavonia Presbyterian Church for the local food pantry, 5610 Vickery Street, Lavonia, GA 30553 in memory of James.
Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers and sign the online guestbook at www.whitlockmortuary.net
Whitlock Mortuary, Funerals and Cremations is honored to be serving the family of Mr. James Clifford Miller, Sr.
