J.D. "Red" Miller, Sr.

J. D. "RED" MILLER, Sr., well known resident of the Moscow Community, decorated World War II Veteran and a person active for many years in community affairs, died at 8:42 A.M. Sunday, October 19, 2008 at the St. Francis Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for one month. He was 86 years of age and died following an extended illness of two years.

Funeral services for Mr. Miller were conducted at 3:30 P.M. Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at the Oak Grove Baptist Church near Moscow with the Rev. David Parlow, Pastor of the church, officiating. He was assisted by Rev. Tony Watkins, Pastor of the Moscow Evangelical Full Gospel Church and by the Rev. Wade Taylor of Memphis, former Pastor of Oak Grove. Interment with Military Honors followed in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes - Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mr. Miller was born April 6, 1922 in Bemis, Tennessee, the son of the late Joseph David Miller and the late Clida Bulah Starr Miller. He moved at an early age with his parents to the Moscow area and was educated in the Fayette County Public School System.He served his country with distinction in the United States Army during the World War II Period. Mr. Miller was the recipient of numerous Military Medals and Awards that included two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.

Mr. Miller was married July 24, 1946 to the former Sally McClure of Moscow, who survives. He was involved in agriculture and lawn maintenance for many years and for sixteen years served as Agricultural Foreman for the Ames Plantation. Mr. Miller had a love for the outdoors and a work ethic that permitted him to be active throughout his life. His many vocational interests included farming, trapping, fishing, hunting, gardening and the cutting and selling of wood to his many customers in the Moscow area.

He was a devoted, longtime member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church where he participated in numerous activities that included serving as a Church Deacon for over sixty years. He had been a resident of the Moscow Community and of the Ames Plantation for most of his life, and will be remembered as a people-person who served as a mentor and second father to many of the young people in his community, instilling in others the value of honesty, integrity and the work ethic that had been passed on to him from his family. He was a familiar figure in the Moscow area, sharing his vegetables with others, attending auctions and discussing local events.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Miller is survived by two daughters, Virginia Owens (Roy) and June Supe (Jerry), both of Moscow; two sons, Bobby Miller (Hazel) of Ashland, MS and J. D. "Bubba" Miller, Jr. (Tammy) of Moscow; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Helen Howell, Irene Canady and Nell Rhea and his infant brother, James Lee Miller.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Randy Bing, Frank Canady, Doug, James, Jeff, Keith and Mark McClure and Eddie Rhea. Honorary pallbearers were Herbert Allen, Jr., Joe Allen, David and Marvin Bing, Bailey Griggs, Robert Hall, Danny, Jimmy Dave and Joseph Howell and Bill, Danny and Joe McClure.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Oak Grove Baptist Church, 1960 Oak Grove Drive, Moscow, TN, 38057, Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, C/O John P. Crisp, 2840 Slayden Rd., Moscow, TN 38057, Gideons International, P. O. Box 212, Somerville, TN 38068 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis TN 38148.