Maxwell D. Miller

Maxwell D. Miller, son of the late Roy Miller and Ruby Plunk Miller, was born on January 25th, 1935 in McNairy County, Tennessee. Max married the love of his life, Sue Hendrix Miller, on February 27th, 1954. Max and Sue started their new lives together in Michigan where Max worked for Ford Motor Company and they had their first two children, Barbara and Nancy. Max accepted Jesus into his life and was baptized in 1960 at age 25. He was very active in the church the remainder of his life, serving as Sunday School teacher, Deacon and on many special committees.

Max and Sue decided they want to raise their children on the farm so they moved back to Bethel Springs, TN in 1962. Max started working on the farm growing cotton and raising livestock. Soon, they would add to the family with the births of their sons, Chris and Jonathan. In the late 1960s, Max expanded the farming operation by growing hybrid Bermuda grass and was featured in several publications and hosted a farm field day in 1971. Outside the farm, Max partnered with Bob Wood to start selling clothing in Wood and Miller department stores. Eventually Max branched off to run independent stores and Max and Sue operated Miller’s Department Stores in 7 different states over a period of 30 years.

Max loved Jesus and served his local church, First Baptist Church, in Bethel Springs for 40 years. In addition, he served in The Gideons International and spoke numerous times on their behalf at churches all over West Tennessee as well as serving as an officer in the local camp.

Maxwell D. Miller went home to heaven on April 14, 2017 at age 82 due to complications following cancer.

Max is survived by wife Sue and his daughter Barbara Rickman (husband Larry) residing in Olive Branch, MS; his daughter Nancy Lambert (Kenny Perkins) residing in Bethel Springs, TN; his son Chris (wife Kristin) residing in Cumming, GA; his son Jonathan (wife Evelyn) residing in Franklin, TN; his sister Linda Miller Roach residing in Bethel Springs, TN; 8 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Max is preceded in death by his brothers Wayne, L.T., Fayne, James Eddie, and his sister Doris.

Celebration of Life services will be Monday, April 17th at 1:00 p.m. at Shackelford Funeral Home in Selmer, TN. Please send any memorial donations to The Gideon’s International.