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William F. �Bill� Miller, III
2019-02-25
William F. �Bill� Miller, III age 70 of Fernandina Beach, Florida passed away on Monday, February 25, 2019 at Baptist Medical Center- Nassau.
He was born on May 10, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia to the late William Flynn Miller, Jr. and Carolyn Morrison Miller. His family moved to Fernandina Beach when he was a baby where he grew up and graduated from Fernandina Beach High School, Class of 1966. Bill was always athletic and excelled at baseball starting in high school. After graduation, he attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and then graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors degree in Forestry. While at UGA, he lettered in Baseball and was in Sigma Chi fraternity.
In 1972 Bill met the former Nancy Ritch in Jesup, Georgia and they married in 1973. His employment as a Forester had the family residing all over the Southeast. For 33 years, Bill worked for Union Camp Corporation and International Paper in various jobs including Regional Manager in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. Most recently he was the Vice President of Forest Operations for F & W Forestry Services. He served as the President of the Georgia Forestry Association and also of the UGA Warnell Alumni Association and Big Jay Hook. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters and was elected SAFellow in 2012. He was inducted into the Georgia Foresters Hall of Fame in 2012. Bill was also an officer in the Georgia Army National Guard.
Bill and Nancy returned back to Fernandina Beach in 2011 where he enjoyed �semi retirement� playing tennis, watching any and all sports and Georgia Bulldog football. He was a member of the Kraft Tennis Club and the �Council Group� which consisted of gentlemen from �Old� Fernandina who would gather together every morning for coffee at the high school baseball field. He was an active member of First Baptist Church and the Joy Sunday School Class.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents.
He leaves behind his wife, Nancy R. Miller of Fernandina Beach, Florida; children, Carrie Miller Molinari and her husband Steve of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Katie Miller Bennett of Macon, Georgia, Flynn Miller IV and his wife Brook of Athens, Georgia; grandchildren, Drew, Dean and Kate Molinari, Libby and Davey Bennett, Wills and Doss Miller; sisters, Marilyn Miller of Jacksonville, Florida, Marcia Vincent of McDonough, Georgia, Jan (Bill) Henning of Oxford, Mississippi, Julia (Mike) Burch of Jesup, Georgia; brother-in-law, Tom and Ashlyn Ritch of Rome, Georgia, sister-in-law, Anne and Mark Miller of Jesup, Georgia. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at First Baptist Church with Pastor Zach Terry officiating.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until the hour of service at the church.
He will be laid to rest in Bosque Bello Cemetery.
Donations may be made in his memory to First Baptist Church, 1600 8th Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.
Memories
CARMEN MEADOWS February 25, 2019
Nancy, My prayers are with you and your family. May Peace be with you.
CYNTHIA SAPP MCCULLERS February 26, 2019
Nancy, I am so sorry to hear about Bill. He was a wonderful
husband, father and grandfather. Hugs and prayers for all. You will be in my thoughts daily. Love and peace.
ROBIN AND CATHY RICHERSON February 26, 2019
Nancy, we are so sorry to hear about Bill. Our prayers are with you and your family.
SARAH COOMBS February 26, 2019
I am so sorry to hear about Bill. Such a sweet and special man with a wonderful family. Sending you all my love, prayers and hugs.
SARAH COOMBS February 26, 2019
So so sorry to hear about Bill. He was a special man with a wonderful family. Sending my prayers, love and hugs to all.
CHRIS BRYAN February 26, 2019
So sorry for the loss of Bill. We grew up in the same neighborhood. He was my brother Chippers age. Fond memories of his family. Prayers for your family.
JODY STRICKLAND February 26, 2019
Nancy and family, I am so sorry to hear about Bill. He was such a fine gentleman! I enjoyed working with Bill over the years and will always remember his smiling face and infectious laughter. Bill is very well known and loved in the forest industry. We will truly miss him.
JOHNNY KEITH February 26, 2019
Nancy, I am so shocked to hear about Bill. My heart goes out to you and family. Prayers and God�s strength for you during this time. He was a main key to our brotherhood. I will miss him.
HUMBER INGRAM February 26, 2019
I am so sorry to hear of Bill�s passing. My prayers are with the family. It was just last week that I sat across from him at lunch in Atlanta at the GFA briefing before visiting the Capitol.
DICKIE AND SHELLY ANDERSON February 26, 2019
Thoughts with you and your family. Special man, special family.
JODI RIGGINS AMMONS February 26, 2019
Dearest Nancy, Carrie, Katie, and Flynn,
My tears flow as I write this and my heart breaks for you and for the loss of someone so dear�.a loving husband, adoring father, and faithful and fun friend. I�m so thankful for our many memories that stretch my entire lifespan. I�m so thankful for the special friend he was to my Dad and to my Mom. I hurt for each of you and am so very sorry. He will be so deeply missed. With deep love and sympathy and many prayers for comfort.
JOHN AND CAROLYN PAIT February 26, 2019
Nancy,
I am so very sorry to hear about Bill. You know how well he is respected in the forestry world and liked by all the colleagues he�s made.. He was a good friend to me and gave me good advice about work, life and even shoulder surgery! Please know how many folks lives he�s touched and that we are all thinking of and praying for you and your family during this very difficult time.
THE MALMQUIST FAMILY February 26, 2019
I�m at a loss for words to learn of Mr. Miller�s passing. He was always full of stories. Would always ask �How�s the family?� Our prayers are with all who loved him. To say �He will be missed� is an understatement.
THE GFC FAMILY February 26, 2019
All of us at the GA Forestry Commission extend our condolences to the Miller family. Bill was a source of wise counsel and insight to our agency; we will be forever grateful for his friendship and support. Our industry has lost a great leader. Our prayers go out to his family.
LARRY SIMPSON February 26, 2019
I worked with Bill at Union Camp. He was truly a great man. My condolences to the family.
JOHN & ARLENE MIRSCHEL February 26, 2019
My husband was frequently paired with Bill on the tennis courts at Kraft, He really enjoyed playing with him and getting to know him
We both are saddened by this and sending our thoughts and prayers to his family.
DOUG LONG February 26, 2019
Nancy and Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Bill was an incredible person who made everyone feel welcome and valued � even a Gator. I feel very lucky to have shared his friendship and will always remember his wise guidance on forestry, family and life. He will be missed by many in the forest industry and Amelia Island. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
HANK BAUER February 27, 2019
Nancy and Family, so sad to learn of Billy�s passing�..he was a great leader and truly an inspirational man ! I feel very fortunate to have shared time with him, especially on the golf course at White Oak��You are in our thoughts and prayers
TOM AND LINDA REED February 27, 2019
Nancy, Linda and I are deeply saddened to hear about Bill�s passing. Bill gave me a lot of great advice over the years. He even gave me on the job training on how to negotiate out of a speeding ticket. He was liked and admired by all who ever met him. Our prayers are with you and your family
TIM LOWRIMORE February 27, 2019
Nancy, Flynn and family � I am so sorry to learn of Bill�s passing and for your loss. Bill was a great man! Always made me feel like I was welcomed and valued, especially early in my career when he necessarily didn�t have to. He will be missed. My prayers are with you and the family.
DARIAN YAWN February 27, 2019
I was deeply saddened to hear of Mr. Bill�s passing and my prayers are with all of the Miller family. I worked for Mr. Bill at Union Camp and consider those years some of the highlights of my career. He was a great man and a great leader in the forest industry. He will be missed by the many of us who were privileged to work with him.
MONTE SIMPSON February 27, 2019
I am saddened that I can�t be there to bid farewell to a man who was one of a kind. Bill will be missed by all who know him. I am honored to have known his friendship.
LARRY WALKER February 27, 2019
Nancy & Family: I�m very sorry to hear of Bill�s passing. He was a very special guy who positively influenced all of us who were lucky enough to share his friendship.
STEPHEN SCAVOTTO February 27, 2019
Nancy
So sad to hear this news. A true loss of a great neighbor, I so enjoyed watching the pleasure that Bill derived from his grandchildren; he was such a gift to them
F. SIMMONS February 27, 2019
To all the Miller family and especially our dear colleague Mrs. Marilyn Miller, we offer our heartfelt condolences for your loss of a beloved father, brother, and friend. Sincerely, the faculty and staff of Oakleaf Junior High School in Orange Park, Florida.
FRANCES BLANCETT February 28, 2019
Regretfully unable to attend service today for Bill. But know 1st Baptist will be filled with love for you, Nancy and your family. Bill will be remembered by all as the best of the best. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
DJ & KARI ADERMAN, HAYWARD, WI February 28, 2019
Nancy so sorry to learn of Bill�s passing. Our prayers are with you & your family. May God hold you all close & surround you with His love.
PAT AND MELISSA REDDISH February 28, 2019
We were both saddened to hear of Bill�s passing. Always enjoyed being around Bill, especially playing golf with him during GFA and Warnell events. Nancy, we will be praying that you and your family will experience God�s peace during this time and will smile through the tears as you remember Bill.
CHRIS BARNEYCASTLE February 28, 2019
Very shocked and saddened to hear of Bill�s passing. First met Bill at a GFA tennis tournament in the early 80�s. Had the privilege of working along side him when he was GFA president. Bill introduced me to the Pink House! A true gentleman and a forester�s forester. We will miss him greatly.
C.J. BASS March 3, 2019
I am very sad to hear this. Bill has been one of my favorite customers for a long time. I cant believe that i can say that because of his bulldog ways, but its true. Mrs nancy you can call me if u need anything.