Curtis Albert Miller, age 101, of Columbus, MS, passed away May 7, 2012, at Collegeview Personal Care Home.  A family memorial service will be held at Collegeview Personal Care Home with Rev. Melvin Mordecai of Community Hospice officiating.  Mr. Miller will be laid to rest next to his wife, Virginia Poole Miller at Magnolia Cemetery in Greenville, AL.  Gunter & Peel Funeral Home of Columbus, MS, and Dunklin Daniel Funeral Home of Greenville, AL, will be in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Miller was born August 4, 1910, in Greenville, AL, where he lived most of his lifetime.  He moved to Columbus, MS, in 1993 to be near his family.  He was the son of the late Clyde Reynolds Miller and Albert George Miller both of Greenville, AL.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Poole Miller, and his brothers Kendrick, Woodrow, and Reynolds Miller and sisters Ruth Strickland, Opal Lynn, Corrie Jordan, and Dorothy Simpson.

Mr. Miller owned and operated Sunshine Cleaners in Greenville for forty-seven years and was a partner in Fox Chevrolet Company for a number of years.

During his years in Greenville he was an active member of First United Methodist Church.  He served several terms as chairman of the official church board.  He also served as head of the building committee for the church.  He and his wife were strong supporters of the Methodist Children’s Home in Selma, AL.  He served four terms as president of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and was a past president of the Butler County Board of Education and served on that board for seventeen years.  He was president of the Greenville Housing Aurthority, past chairman of the Greenville Country Club Board of Governors, and a charter member and past president of the Greenville Kiwanis Club.  He was most instrumental in having the Alabama state flower changed to the camellia and served as chairman of that committee.  He held the highest Masonic degree.  He was named Greenville’s Man of the Year in 1957.  He was continuously active in civic affairs and served as chairman of the United Way and other charitable organizations.  He was very active in securing industry for Greenville.  Mr. Miller enjoyed fishing and horseback riding.  He was active in establishing horse shows for Greenville, AL, and in promoting horseback riding for young people.  He was a pilot and enjoyed flying his Aeronca Airplane

He is survived by his daughter, Virginia Miller Heatherly and her husband, Joe, four grandchildren, Jennie Gates Paulding and her husband Ben of Columbus, MS, William Gates, III, of Columbus, MS, Currie Gates Webster and her husband Mark of Escondido, CA, and Wade Heatherly and his wife Susannah of Natchez, MS, and eight great grandchildren, Heather Gates, Austin Paulding, Davis, Faith, and Jenna Webster, and Wesley, Carolyne, and Byrne Heatherly.  He is also survived by a brother, Hubert Miller, of Milton, FL, and many nieces and nephews.

The family is very grateful to Mr. Miller’s special friends, Carolyn and Gene Reed and the loving staff of Collegeview Personal Care Home, Community Hospice, Pastor Melvin Mordecai, Dr. Shawn Parker, Dr. Bob Howland, Dr. James Gatewood, Frank Griffin, Watson Jones, Dr. Adelaide Henderson, Dr. Frank Dailey, and Dr. Bobby Dill.

In liew of flowers the family suggests donations be made to “Because He Lives”, First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 829, Columbus, MS, 39703, First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 555, Greenville, AL, 36037, or the a charity of choice.