Marcus J. Miller Jr.

MILLER, Marcus J. Miller Jr., owner of the popular club, Barcode, longtime gay community activist, and generous supporter of multiple community groups, died September 14, 2008. He was 46. Mr. Miller was a native of Georgia, and a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces. He was a talented restaurateur, and arrived in Richmond, where he supervised all KFC restaurants in Virginia and North Carolina. He later managed Richmond Ruby Tuesday and the popular after hours club, Fieldens. In 2001, he realized his dream and purchased Casablanca, a Grace Street gay club. Following extensive renovations, Barcode opened in November of that year. Barcode quickly became Richmond's most popular gay club. Mr. Miller's business savvy and his ability to hire friendly and loyal staff was the key to the club's success. In a turbulent era for gay clubs, Barcode remains a place where all members of our community can count on a flavorful meal, a well-poured cocktail, and good fellowship. Mr. Miller chose the name Matthew Enterprises for his corporation in honor of Matthew Shepard, the Wyoming gay man murdered in 1998. On the Barcode website Mr. Miller explained his choice. "It is the mission of this company to provide gay men and women with the opportunities to excel and achieve their individual goals in life, while working in a gay friendly atmosphere that is profit-oriented. It is my dream that each person who works for this company, and achieves their goals in life, will in some way always honor the life of Matthew Shepard." Mr. Miller was a significant contributor to the growth of Richmond's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. He was a founding Board member of Richmond Triangle Players, and at his death served as a Board member emeritus. He served for two years as a Board member of Equality Virginia, and was active in the Central Virginia Business and Professional Guild, and in planning committees for Richmond's Pride Festivals. Mr. Miller never sought recognition, and, in fact, was quite clear that he wanted none, but he was a significant financial contributor to many LGBT groups such as Triangle Players, Equality Virginia, Fan Free Clinic, Richmond Pride and Gay Pride Virginia, the Human Rights Campaign, and many more. Despite his denials, his generosity was well known, to which many that he helped can attest. Mr. Miller is survived by the staff of Barcode, whom he considered his chosen family rather than employees, and also hundreds of friends in and outside Richmond. Although Marcus created a special life and family for himself in this community, he is also survived by a loving mother, Annie Ruth Stone and her husband, James, of Columbia, N.C.; a brother, Anthony Keith Miller of Jeffersonville, Ga.; a sister, Marcia Mullis and her husband, Eddie, of Stockbridge, Ga., and their daughters, Amanda and Jessica. Mr. Miller's father, Marcus Joseph Miller, is a resident of Kite, Ga. A special memorial gathering will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, October 12, at Barcode, 6 E. Grace St.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.