Doyle Mills
Doyle R. Mills, 88, of Rossville, died on Friday, June 24, 2016 at his residence.
Doyle was a native of Winfield, AL where he was a 1944 graduate of Winfield High School. After his high school graduation Doyle attended Freed Hardeman College, David Lipscomb College, and received his master’s degree from UTC. He was a United States Navy Airforce veteran working in the Control Tower. In 1952 Doyle began his career in education where he worked at the Tate Community School serving as its principal and teacher for grades 4-7. Following his tenure at Tate Community School Doyle became administrator and principal at Chattanooga Bible School which is now known as Boyd-Buchanan School. Doyle later moved to Valdosta where he accepted a position as administrator of Education for the Echols County Georgia School System. Doyle then became the principal and teacher at Georgia Christian School in Dasher, GA. In the early 1970s Doyle came back home to North Georgia where he served as assistant principal at Chattanooga Valley High School for two years and principal at Pond Springs Elementary School for over 20 years retiring in 1993 from the Walker County School System. After his retirement from the school system, Doyle delivered flowers for Ensigns the Florist.
Doyle served as a Church of Christ minister in North Georgia, South Georgia, and Tennessee. He was very active in his community having served on many boards and committees including the board for Boyd-Buchanan School, the Martin Boyd Home for over 20 years, Rossville Primary Health Board, Walker County Teachers Federal Education Credit Union, and also served as Representative for the GEA and the NEA. He loved coaching softball, basketball, golf, and football. Doyle was a member of the Rossville Church of Christ; the Rossville Exchange Club; American Legion Post 148 in St. Elmo where he also served as Treasurer. Doyle’s passions in life were God, family, community, being a committed educator, playing golf, having made a whole in one, and being an avid Alabama Football fan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Olen Mills; mother, Verona Miles; brothers, Don Miles, Billy Ray Mills, Joe Mills, and Bob Mills; and sisters, Juanice Dillard and Mava June Sims.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Reita Mills; four daughters, Pamela Pate of Norcross, GA, Phyllis (Craig) Thompson of Ringgold, Stephanie (Rick) Sherman of Starkville, MS, and Ginger (Allen) VanPelt of Armuchee; two sisters, Mary Raymond of Nashville, TN and Ann Bradley of Corinth, MS; 15 grandchildren, Tyson, Neal, and Ryan Pate, Justin and Jared McAlister, Alan, Ivey and Ashlen Thompson, Clay and Paden Oldham, Amanda McRoberts, Heath and Corey Sherman, and Maleah and Ceara Williams; five great-grandchildren, Caden, Tyler and Olivia Pate, Bryan McRoberts, and Charlie Oldham; and several nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to the Martin Boyd Home at www.martinboydhome.com or to Georgia Christian School at www.georgiachristian.org.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 28, at 2 p.m. at the Rossville Church of Christ with Minister Steve Riley and Minister Jack James officiating. Doyle will lie in state at the Church from 12 noon until the funeral hour.
Interment will follow in the TN-GA Memorial Park with military honors.
The family will receive friends Sunday and Monday, from 4-8 p.m. at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.