October 23, 1944 - September 30, 2024
Services for Mr. Andrew "Andy" Milling of Decatur were held 2 PM, Thursday, October 3, 2024 at Midway Baptist Church in Newton (between Decatur and Newton) with burial in the Midway Baptist Church Cemetery. Bro. Mark Beasley, Bro. Ryan Reed and Bro. Scott Vaughn officiated.
Visitation was held 5-8 PM, Wednesday, October 2 at Milling Funeral Home of Union. Also visitation was held one hour prior to the service on Thursday at Midway Baptist Church, Newton.
Andy, age 79, passed away September 30, 2024, due to complications from pulmonary disease. He was born October 23, 1944, in rural Newton County, as Roy and Janie Milling’s third child. He grew up in Newton, Mississippi, graduating from Newton High School and working at the local Sunflower supermarket. While employed there, he would see Suzanne Coghlan shopping with her mother and thought she might be “the one” for him. He eventually convinced her of this, and Andy and Suzanne married in 1968. Their family grew with the additions of four daughters, while Andy worked as a dairy farmer, leaving that vocation to work for the Mississippi Forestry Commission.
He ran a small business as a tree planter for more than twenty years, and he eventually served as a field technician with the MSU Extension Service’s Plant Pathology and Entomology departments. This job took him all over Mississippi from waist-high cotton fields in the Delta to the finest golf courses on the Coast. Possibly the best part was all the people he met and befriended in those years, as well as all the excellent hole-in-the-wall restaurants he discovered for a great cheeseburger or homestyle plate lunch. After retiring,Andy returned to cattle farming.
Andy was hard-working, never shirked his duties or responsibilities, and was as reliable as they come. Many days he worked from before sunrise until well after sunset. His handwriting was atrocious but his math skills were above par. He could build a house or repair a tractor and make it seem easy. Andy adored Suzanne mightily, posing under duress for her Christmas card photos every year. He called her “darlin’” to the end. He was the best daddy a girl could ever have. He was proud of each of his four grandchildren, and he was quick to give out hugs and let them know he loved them. His neighbors knew they could call on him to pull them out of a muddy ditch or help them clean up after a storm. Above all, Andy loved his family and friends and was loved greatly in return.
Crappie fishing was his favorite hobby, and along with his close friend and fishing partner, Homer Burton, he provided many excellent fish fries for friends and family.
Andy enjoyed reading Louis L’Amour and the back of cereal boxes, and he was a daredevil well past the point he should have been. He was a fairly decent softball coach to his girls, too. Kevin Pierce was often found to be his “partner in crime” for a variety of projects, from work to play, and Kevin always held a special place in the heart of a man with four daughters.
Above all, Andy had a deep and abiding faith in God and Jesus Christ, telling his family near the end of his life that he had given his health issues over to God and that he immediately found peace. He was a long-time member of Midway Baptist Church and served as a long-time Sunday School teacher and deacon there until his health would not allow it any longer.
Celebrating his life are his wife of 56 years, Suzanne Coghlan Milling and four daughters, Robin Milling, Rebecca Milling Stevens (Marty), Rachel Stewart (Robert), and Grace Milling His grandchildren, Suzie Stevens, Drew Stevens, Vance Richardson, and Trey Nickey will always have the best memories of “Papaw” and his tickle-fights. He would watch proudly from the audience or stands as they achieved new goals. Additionally, he is survived by his sister, Nancy Graham (Harold); his brother, Clark Milling (Linda), as well as many nieces and nephews, and his brother-in-law, Jimmy Coghlan. Many family members will remember Andy for his stead-fastness in whatever challenge crossed his path.
Andy was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Roy Milling and Janie Horton Milling; his older brother, Royce Colon Milling, sister-in-law, Patricia “Pat” Gosnell Milling, and his nephew, Royce Colon “Redman” Milling, Jr.
Pallbearers were Kevin Pierce, Neal Holliman, Paul Lampton, Tody McDowell, Justin McDowell, Robby McDowell, Jason Pierce and Jacob Pierce.
Honorary Pallbearers were Ronnie Federick, Kent Carey, Homer Burton, Larry Blackburn, Robert Pierce, Clark Scoggin, Kenny Harris and Ricky Wyatt.
Milling Funeral Home of Union was in charge of the arrangements.
Paid Obituary
