1926
Luther
2010
Luther L. Millsaps
October 14, 1926 — March 16, 2010
Tupelo - Luther Lee Millsaps, 83, died Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at The North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born October 14, 1926, in Clay County, Mississippi to Hiram and Evie Ellis Millsaps. He was a graduate of Pheba High School and also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Rust College. He married Lucile Curtis on November 08, 1950.
He was a veteran of the United States Army and trained as a combat infantryman. He served his country in the Philippines and was in the first group of troops that occupied Japan. He was also in a task force that established and maintained communications in the 8th Army headquarters.
For over 37 years, he was employed with the South Central Bell System. He started as a construction lineman and served the last twenty plus years as a group manager with responsibilities in Public Relations and the development of the public telephone market in Mississippi.
He was the Past Master of the Blue Lodge # 318, a life member and 33rd Degree Scottish Rite, Knight Templar, past patron of the Eastern Star and a member of the Shriners. He was a charter member and past president of the Corinth Civitans. For 48 years he was affiliated with all local offices of the Rotary Club, where he also served as past District Governor and International Council on Legislation and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. As the District Governor, he secured the adoption of a Kidney Dialysis Center and led Tupelo Rotarians to buy the first Kidney Dialysis Machine for North Mississippi Medical Center. On May 1, 1985, he was appointed the first Regional Director for the Habitat for Humanity International, serving central west Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Many honors were bestowed upon him, including the State 4-H Advisory Council Alumni of the Year, Corinth Young Man of the Year, Aberdeen Rotarian of the Year and Habitat for Humanity Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Ageless Hero Award.
He served as a trustee for Wood College and on the Advisory Board of the American Family Association and the American Family Radio.
He served as County Chairman, Executive Committee, and State Executive Committee for the Republican Party. He was the Lee County Chairman for many candidates including most recently President George W. Bush. He served from its inception, for over 38 years, on the Lee County Jury Commission. He was also the longest serving board member of The Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC), a federal program which was created by the Mississippi Home Corporation act of 1989 to address housing needs.
He became a Christian and a United Methodist at an early age. For over 50 years, he taught Sunday school, served on the local Administrative Board, Council on Ministry, Pastor-Parish Relations, United Methodist Men, and Missions for his local church. He also served on several boards for the District, State of Mississippi Conferences, nine Southeastern States Jurisdictional, and worldwide general conferences for the United Methodist Church. He was honored as a John Wesley Fellow.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010, at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Landon Dowden, Dr. Prentis Gordon, Senator Alan Nunnelee, Rev. Millsaps Dye and Amy Tuck officiating. Graveside Services with Masonic Rites and Military Honors will be at Forrest Memorial in Corinth. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Lucile Curtis Millsaps; one daughter, Rita Moffett (T.K.) of Tupelo; one grandchild, Tara Leigh Dowden (Dr. Landon Dowden) of Baton Rouge, Louisana; three great-grandchildren, Arabella Leigh, Adalaide "Lil Buddy" and Adoniram "Buddy Boy" Dowden; two sisters, Joy Brewer and Polly Christopher (Carroll) of West Point.
He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.
Pallbearers will be Josh McCahill, Jake McCahill, Bryant Millsaps, Kim Millsaps, Dr. Curtis McLemore, and Gerald McLemore.
Honorary Pallbears will be Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Alan Nunnelee, Amy Tuck, Henry Tucker, Elmer Strachan, Dr. Max Hutchinson, Fred Strange, Jack Reed Sr., Phil Bryant, Members of the Tupelo Rotary Club and the Staff of the Cracker Barrell.
Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 2010, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 213 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804-3958, The Fuller Center for Housing, 701 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Americus, GA 31719, or the First United Methodist Church, 412 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804-3818
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com
He was a veteran of the United States Army and trained as a combat infantryman. He served his country in the Philippines and was in the first group of troops that occupied Japan. He was also in a task force that established and maintained communications in the 8th Army headquarters.
For over 37 years, he was employed with the South Central Bell System. He started as a construction lineman and served the last twenty plus years as a group manager with responsibilities in Public Relations and the development of the public telephone market in Mississippi.
He was the Past Master of the Blue Lodge # 318, a life member and 33rd Degree Scottish Rite, Knight Templar, past patron of the Eastern Star and a member of the Shriners. He was a charter member and past president of the Corinth Civitans. For 48 years he was affiliated with all local offices of the Rotary Club, where he also served as past District Governor and International Council on Legislation and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. As the District Governor, he secured the adoption of a Kidney Dialysis Center and led Tupelo Rotarians to buy the first Kidney Dialysis Machine for North Mississippi Medical Center. On May 1, 1985, he was appointed the first Regional Director for the Habitat for Humanity International, serving central west Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Many honors were bestowed upon him, including the State 4-H Advisory Council Alumni of the Year, Corinth Young Man of the Year, Aberdeen Rotarian of the Year and Habitat for Humanity Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Ageless Hero Award.
He served as a trustee for Wood College and on the Advisory Board of the American Family Association and the American Family Radio.
He served as County Chairman, Executive Committee, and State Executive Committee for the Republican Party. He was the Lee County Chairman for many candidates including most recently President George W. Bush. He served from its inception, for over 38 years, on the Lee County Jury Commission. He was also the longest serving board member of The Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC), a federal program which was created by the Mississippi Home Corporation act of 1989 to address housing needs.
He became a Christian and a United Methodist at an early age. For over 50 years, he taught Sunday school, served on the local Administrative Board, Council on Ministry, Pastor-Parish Relations, United Methodist Men, and Missions for his local church. He also served on several boards for the District, State of Mississippi Conferences, nine Southeastern States Jurisdictional, and worldwide general conferences for the United Methodist Church. He was honored as a John Wesley Fellow.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010, at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Landon Dowden, Dr. Prentis Gordon, Senator Alan Nunnelee, Rev. Millsaps Dye and Amy Tuck officiating. Graveside Services with Masonic Rites and Military Honors will be at Forrest Memorial in Corinth. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Lucile Curtis Millsaps; one daughter, Rita Moffett (T.K.) of Tupelo; one grandchild, Tara Leigh Dowden (Dr. Landon Dowden) of Baton Rouge, Louisana; three great-grandchildren, Arabella Leigh, Adalaide "Lil Buddy" and Adoniram "Buddy Boy" Dowden; two sisters, Joy Brewer and Polly Christopher (Carroll) of West Point.
He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.
Pallbearers will be Josh McCahill, Jake McCahill, Bryant Millsaps, Kim Millsaps, Dr. Curtis McLemore, and Gerald McLemore.
Honorary Pallbears will be Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Alan Nunnelee, Amy Tuck, Henry Tucker, Elmer Strachan, Dr. Max Hutchinson, Fred Strange, Jack Reed Sr., Phil Bryant, Members of the Tupelo Rotary Club and the Staff of the Cracker Barrell.
Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 2010, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 213 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804-3958, The Fuller Center for Housing, 701 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Americus, GA 31719, or the First United Methodist Church, 412 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804-3818
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Luther L. Millsaps, please visit our flower store.
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