Services for Larry G. Mills were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 at First United Methodist Church in Philadelphia with the Rev. Chris Young officiating.
Burial followed in Cedarlawn Cemetery with military honors. McClain-Hays Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Larry Garrett Mills passed away on Aug. 19, 2017, in Jackson at the age of 68.
Larry was born in Philadelphia on July 2, 1949, to Bobby Jean and Otho Singleton Mills.
He grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Philadelphia High School. He married Brenda Hicks, also of Philadelphia, and they had three children.
Larry joined the United States Army National Guard in 1969 and began full-time active duty in 1987. In 2005, he retired at the rank of Sergeant First Class.
Larry was a life-long member of Philadelphia First United Methodist Church where he was a member of the Chancel Choir and the Men’s Quartet. He was also involved in the church’s various missions and served as chairman of the auction committee. Larry loved singing and especially enjoyed sharing his talent on Christmas Eve at the church’s Candlelight Service. He had great memories of volunteering with the youth, particularly the Mountain TOP trips to Tennessee.
He served on the boards of the Philadelphia Public School District and the Philadelphia-Neshoba County Arts Council.
Larry could often be seen on stage at the Ellis Theatre in one of the Art Council’s many productions and heard on Friday nights as the voice of the Philadelphia High School Tornados. In addition to singing and acting, Larry enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, fishing, and biking.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bobby Jean Mills and Otho Singleton Mills; his mother-in-law, Katie Sharp Hicks; and an uncle, Noah Massey Mills.
Larry is survived by his wife of 48 years, Brenda Hicks Mills; his children, Kimberly Mills Kilpatrick and her husband, Michael, of Philadelphia, Justin Garrett Mills and his wife, Tamra, of Hickory, and Jonathan Perry Mills and his wife, Katie, of Greenwood; five grandchildren, Chaney Mills, Garrett Mills, William Mills, Linnie Kate Kilpatrick and Henry Mills; one sister, Jean Mills Yacobucci and her husband, Bob, of Hollidaysburg, Penn.; two brothers, Bob Mills and his wife, Susan, of Santa Fe, N.M., and Ron Mills of Jackson; and a host of extended family.
Pallbearers were Brett Moran, Brian Hicks, Carter Callaway, Jim Hicks, Clay Byars and Jake Lambert.
Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or online at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org or to a charity of your choice.
Paid Obituary
