Dr. A. Lamar Miller Jr.

1931 - 2025

Dr. A. Lamar Miller Jr.

August 20, 1931 - January 7, 2025

Dr. Atwill Lamar Miller, Jr., age 93, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Lamar was born in Dothan on August 20, 1931, to Atwill Lamar Miller and Ann L. Joiner Miller. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Connie Hill Miller; five children: Kathryn (Byron) Woodruff of Birmingham, Becki (Clay) Hine of Atlanta, Chris (Frankie) Miller of Dothan, Joe (Elizabeth) Miller and Nancy (Mike) Heard, both of Birmingham; and nine grandchildren (who called him "Lemac"): Melody Hine, Camden Hine, Anne Miller, Christopher Miller, Daniel (Kendall) Miller, Harris Miller, Reed Miller, Levi Heard and Paul Heard. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joe L. Miller, and is also survived by sister-in-law Mary Lou Miller and nieces Teresa (Keith) Norman and Jo Ann (Mike) Marshall.

Lamar graduated from Dothan High School, where he was president of the student body and a member of the National Honor Society. After earning a B.S. from the University of Alabama in 1953, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, he and Connie married on July 18. In 1957 he graduated from the Medical College of Alabama (now UAB School of Medicine) and then did a rotating internship and surgical residency at Lloyd Noland Hospital in Birmingham. After serving two years as general surgeon at the 3320th USAF Hospital in Amarillo, TX, he completed a urological residency at Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston, TX, where he received the Outstanding Resident in Urology award. Between 1964 and 1970, Lamar served as Chief of Urology at Lloyd Noland Hospital and clinical instructor in urology at Medical College of Alabama.

During medical school, Lamar worked two summers as camp doctor at the Children's Fresh Air Farm in Birmingham, while Connie served on staff.

Lamar was a member of the American Medical Association and the American Urological Association and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. While in Birmingham he served as president of the Birmingham Urological Club. In 1971 he joined Urological Associates of Dothan and practiced at both Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC, now Southeast Health) and Flowers Hospital. He held several offices in the Houston County Medical Society, including president. He served Flowers Hospital as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery. He served SAMC as Chief of Surgery, chairman of the Surgical ICU Committee when the unit was built, and as a member of the Executive Committee. Lamar's peers considered him an innovator in the OR, where he could improvise to get the desired result. He retired from Urological Associates in 1999. After retirement he worked several years at the SAMC Outpatient Wound Care Center.

Lamar had many interests other than medicine. He was a member of the Birmingham Banjo Band and a founding member of the Dothan Dixieland Band, with whom he played for 25 years. He was also an avid banjo collector. He was a deacon, choir member and adult Sunday School teacher for many years at First Baptist Church and was named Deacon Emeritus in 2017. He served FBC on the Music Committee and as chairman of the Building Committee. He also served five years on the Dothan City School Board, including a term as chairman. Over the years, Lamar served on the boards of directors of Mutual Assurance, SouthTrust Bank, Dothan Country Club and Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT). He was named board member emeritus of Music South. He was also a member of Dothan Rotary Club.

When Lamar was younger, he earned a commercial pilot's license with multi-engine, instructor and instrument ratings and enjoyed flying a small plane. He also enjoyed woodworking and even built a grandfather clock. His interests included gardening and experimenting in the kitchen, with several of his recipes being featured in the May, 1981 issue of Southern Living. Lamar truly loved the game of golf and traveled many times with golfing buddies to play the famous courses in Scotland. Lamar was once described as owning "more golf clubs than Edwin Watts."

Not only was Lamar a board member of SEACT, but he was also a frequent performer. He is probably best known for playing Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, a role he originated in 1976 and reprised in 2007. He played the same character, Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside, in both Mame and Auntie Mame. He also appeared in Oklahoma! (as Ado Annie's father), Annie (as FDR), On Borrowed Time (as Gramps), Beauty and the Beast (as Monsieur D'Arque), The Music Man, My Fair Lady and Li'l Abner.

Lamar loved the Lord and he loved his family. He was known for his honesty, his bushy eyebrows, and his booming bass voice. While we miss him dearly, we know where he is and look forward to seeing him again. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, January 26, at First Baptist Church, Dothan, with visitation preceding at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to First Baptist Church or Macular Degeneration Research. Lamar's family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the caring people of Extendicare Health Center, Anointed Touch Caregivers and Gentiva Hospice.