Joe Mills

Harvey Joe Mills was born on December 6, 1928 in Pampa, Texas. He was united with the love of his soul, our Savior, Jesus and reunited with the love of his life, Barbara T. Mills, on October 26, 2017. Raised in Blakely, Georgia he worked on the family farm mainly growing peanuts. He went to Georgia Tech and majored in Industrial Engineering, which he put to work building some of the major roads in Atlanta. It was during that time he lost his hearing and heard from God that he was to go into ministry. He went to Mercer University and got his B.A. degree in Math and Christianity and met and married Barbara Touard. He and his new bride were then off to seminary where he received an M. Div. degree and became the pastor at Lumber City Baptist Church. When it became evident that he had a gift of working with young men, he joined the military as a chaplain serving for 29 years, including tours in Germany, Korea, Vietnam and the Soviet Union. Upon retirement, he got n M. S. degree at Troy University and later completed all the classroom requirements for a Ph. D in Marriage and Family Counseling at Florida State. Yes, that's four degrees, he loved learning! He then worked in several churches, was a licensed therapist, a police Chaplain, a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children and volunteered with Hospice. He definitely lived out James chapter 2, showing everyone his faith by his works.

He is survived by his children, Jenni Adams, Carole Nolan, Beth (and Don) Leonard, and Tom (and Julie) Mills. His eight grandchildren, Jeremy (and Brittni) Adams, Chris Adams (and Kate Wright), Amanda (and Jaciel) Castro, Damon (and Shelby) Nolan, Hannah Leonard, Kiki (and Blake) Alliston, Isaac Mills and Sarah Mills. He is now reunited with the thousands of souls to whom he ministered throughout his life of service to our Lord, from the soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefields of Korea and Vietnam, to the Georgia state policemen who lost their lives in service to their state, and to so many others in all walks of life. We are confident he was greeted with the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" Rest in joy, Dad!

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 1st from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday November 2nd at 10am with a service following at 11am. Burial will be at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers please make donations to CASA for foster children at https://casaforchildren.salsalabs.org/donate/index.html