James Henry "Jim" Millis

HIGH POINT - James Henry "Jim" Millis, passed away peacefully Monday, Aug. 16, 2004, after a long battle with cancer. Jim was born in High Point on July 30, 1923, to Ed and Helen Millis. He is survived by and will be missed by his wife, Jesse Evans Millis; his sons, Jim Jr. and his wife Debbie, and Bill and his wife Ellen; his daughters, Emily Hiatt and Molly Hedgecock; 11 grandchildren, Debbie Hupe and her husband Randy, James "Dak" Millis III and his wife Lisa, Jonathan Kappes and his wife Kelly, Casey, Maggie, Jenny and Jesse Millis, Ryan and Haley Hiatt, Ashley Hedgecock-Medley and her husband Jeff and Justin Hedgecock; four great-grandchildren, Emma and Charlie Hupe and Ren and Fulton Millis; and Jim's sister, Helen Millis Covington and her three children, Ned, David and Pam. Jim graduated from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he met his wife, Jesse. He attended both Davidson College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During World War II, he was a P-47 fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Like his dad, Jim's career was spent in High Point in the hosiery business at Adams-Millis Corp., where he worked for 40 years, retiring as chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Under Jim's leadership, Adams-Millis grew to be the largest diversified hosiery company in the world. He considered everyone working for and associated with the company to be his "extended family." He was a lifetime member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served in many capacities over the years. Besides his love for family, church and business, Jim had a lifetime passion for High Point, where he embraced countless civic projects such as High Point University, High Point Regional Health Systems, the YMCA and The High Point Community Foundation, to name but a few. From these passions he never retired. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 9 p.m. today, Aug. 18, in the Asbury Room at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1225 Chestnut Drive. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, with Dr. Charles "Chuck" Wilson II, Bishop Thomas B. Stockton and Paul J. Lessard officiating. Pallbearers are Bob Amos Jr., George Peters, Cal Anderson, Ike Belk, Bob Shaw, Purcell Kimsey, John Mann Freeze, Randy Smith and David Dowdy. Honorary pallbearers are Jake Martinson, Ray Cope, Jim Copeland, Chris Gionnapolis, John Peddycord, Tom Haggai, Nido Qubein, George Ragan, Hunter Dalton, Gary York, Plato Wilson, Charlie Green, Frank Tothill, Jim Morgan, John Wall and "Sandy." Entombment for family members will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery. Jim and his family suggest that memorials be made to Hospice House of High Point, c/o Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point NC 27262, or a charity of the donor's choice. Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made through www.cumbyfuneral.com