C. Ralph Mills

C. RALPH MILLS, born July 11, 1943 in Pitt County, Greensville, North Carolina, died December 4, 2025. He is the youngest son of Marion and Hattie Lou Stox Mills.
He studied Organ and Church Music at Peabody College for Teachers, School of Music. While in graduate school, he served as Chapel Organist and Assistant to the Head of Church Music at Scarritt College for Christian Workers. He pursued additional organ and church music studies at Haartem, the Netherlands and Croydon, England. He, also, studied privately with numerous organists in the south.
Mills was an Ordained Decon in the United Methodist Church, Virginia Conference. He served Methodists and Presbyterian churches in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. He was an organist and choir director at the B'Nai Shalom Congregation in Huntington, WV. Mills was active as a teacher and taught organ, piano, elementary music and music appreciation both in private and public schools and in community colleges.
A church musician throughout his professional life, Mills was active in numerous professional and civic organizations. He led fund raising efforts to preserve historic organs through arts and grant funds. As a church musician, Mills has received honors and commendations for his professional work. His influence lives on through the many children, youth, and adults he led in his choirs and the congregations he inspired.
Mills is survived by his wife Sonia, daughters Margaret, Rachel, Sarah, Grandchildren, Son-in-law and an older brother, Leroy and his wife.
Services will be held at First United Methodist, Huntington, WV on December 13.
Contributions "in memory of Rev. C. Ralph Mills" may be made to your local church and your church music program, the local Chapter of the Americal Guild of Organist (AGO) and the Sing for Joy (St Olaf College, MN).