Thomas W. Miller

TABOR CITY - Thomas Wayne Miller, 70, of Tabor City, died Sunday, April 11, 2010, in his home after a courageous battle with melanoma. Born Oct. 18, 1939, in Columbus County, he was the son of the late Everette Ussery and Ruth Jordan Miller. He was a 1957 graduate of Tabor City High School. He earned a bachelor of science in agricultural economics from N.C. State University in Raleigh in 1961. He was a member of the N.C. State baseball team and the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He was a devoted fan of the Wolfpack athletic program and looked forward to each new season of football, basketball and baseball. He was recently retired as owner and operator of Miller Brothers and Sons Sweet Potatoes Inc., Miller Farms Produce and Farmers Tobacco Warehouse. He was a member of Tabor City Baptist Church, Tabor City Rotary Club, Horry County State Bank advisory board, Columbus County School Board, the N.C. Yam Commission, Tabor Masonic Lodge No. 563 and a veteran of the Air National Guard. Wayne was the "true southern gentleman," and his great love of farming made him well-known throughout Columbus and surrounding counties for his ability to produce some of southeastern North Carolina's best produce. Wayne was dearly loved by his family and all those who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Graham Miller of Tabor City; a daughter, Natalie Miller Naughton of Green Sea, S.C., and her husband, John Naughton; two sons, Thomas Wayne Miller Jr. and wife Sarah Williams Miller of Mooresville, and Warren Lupo Miller and wife Kelly Fonvielle Miller of Tabor City. He was known as "Pop" to his seven grandchildren: Anna Elizabeth Naughton, Meredith Colene Naughton, Natalie Claire Naughton, Lauren Megan Miller, Audrey Ruth Miller, Matthew Austin Miller and Mason Everette Miller. Wayne was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Miller Burns of Richmond, Va., and is survived by a sister, Teresa Miller Hughes of Mount Pleasant, S.C. Final rites will be held in Tabor City Baptist Church at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2010, with Dr. David Coleman and Pastor Bruce Schmidt officiating, with interment to follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Tabor City Baptist Church, 200 Live Oak St., Tabor City, NC 28463, or the Lower Cape Fear Hospice & Life Care Center, 206 Warrior Trail Road, Whiteville, NC 28472. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Hodgson and staff, Dr. Kimberly Edwards, and the staff of Columbus Regional Healthcare System and Lower Cape Fear Hospice of Whiteville for the compassion shown during this difficult time. Guest register is available at inmanfuneralhome.com. A service of Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City.