Millsaps, Luther Lee

1926 - 2010  (83 years)

• Name	Millsaps, Luther Lee
  Born	14 Oct 1926	Clay County, Mississippi, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	16 Mar 2010	North Mississippi Medical Center - Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi, USA
  Buried	Forrest Memorial Park - Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, USA
  Person ID	I3097	Coursey-Sansing Tree
  Last Modified	17 Nov 2020

  
  

  Father	Millsaps, Hiram,   b. 3 Oct 1888, Montpelier, Clay County, Mississippi ,   d. Abt 1942, Clay County, Mississippi, USA  (Age 53 years)
  Mother	Ellis, Evie Elizabeth,   b. 7 Mar 1893, Mississippi, USA ,   d. Abt Dec 1983, West Point, Clay County, Mississippi, USA  (Age 90 years)
  Family ID	F1408	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Curtis, Lucille Loretta,   b. 22 Jan 1930, Pheba, Clay County, Mississippi, USA ,   d. 18 Feb 2011, Daughter's Home - Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi, USA  (Age 81 years)
  Married	8 Nov 1950
  Children	1. Millsaps, Rita
  Last Modified	17 Nov 2020
  Family ID	F1437	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Obituary   TUPELO – Luther Lee Millsaps, 83, died Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born Oct. 14, 1926, in Clay County to Hiram and Evie Ellis Millsaps. He graduated from Pheba High School and received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Rust College. He married Lucile Curtis on Nov. 08, 1950. He was a veteran of the United States Army and trained as a combat infantryman. He served his country in the Philippines and was in the first group of troops that occupied Japan. He was also in a task force that established and maintained communications in the 8th Army headquarters. For over 37 years, he was employed with the South Central Bell System. He started as a construction lineman and served the last 20-plus years as a group manager with responsibilities in Public Relations and the development of the public telephone market in Mississippi. He was the past Master of the Blue Lodge 318, a life member and 33rd Degree Scottish Rite, Knight Templar, past patron of the Eastern Star and a member of the Shriners. He was a charter member and past president of the Corinth Civitans. For 48 years he was affiliated with all local offices of the Rotary Club, where he also served as past District Governor and International Council on Legislation. As the District Governor, he secured the adoption of a Kidney Dialysis Center. On May 1, 1985, he was appointed the first Regional Director for the Habitat for Humanity International, serving central west Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Many honors were bestowed upon him, including Corinth Young Man of the Year, Aberdeen Rotarian of the Year and Habitat for Humanity Hall of Fame. He served as county chairman, Executive Committee and State Executive Committee for the Republican Party. He served from its inception for over 38 years on the Lee County Jury Commission. He was also the longest serving board member of the Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC), a federal program which was created by the Mississippi Home Corporation act of 1989 to address housing needs. He became a Christian and a United Methodist at an early age. For over 50 years, he taught Sunday school, served on the local Administrative Board, Council on Ministry, Pastor-Parish Relations, United Methodist Men, and Missions for his local church. He also served on several boards for the District, State of Mississippi Conferences, nine Southeastern States Jurisdictional, and worldwide general conferences for the United Methodist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Landon Dowden, Dr. Prentis Gordon, Sen. Alan Nunnelee, Rev. Millsaps Dye and Amy Tuck officiating. Graveside services with Masonic rites and military honors will be at Forrest Memorial in Corinth. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Lucile Curtis Millsaps; one daughter, Rita Moffett (T.K.) of Tupelo; one grandchild, Tara Leigh Dowden (Dr. Landon Dowden) of Baton Rouge, La.; three great-grandchildren, Arabella Leigh, Adalaide “Lil’ Buddy” and Adoniram “Buddy Boy” Dowden; two sisters, Joy Brewer and Polly Christopher (Carroll) of West Point. He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings. Pallbearers will be Josh McCahill, Jake McCahill, Bryant Millsaps, Kim Millsaps, Dr. Curtis McLemore and Gerald McLemore. Honorary pallbearers will be Sen. Roger Wicker, Sen. Alan Nunnelee, Amy Tuck, Henry Tucker, Elmer Strachan, Dr. Max Hutchinson, Fred Strange, Jack Reed Sr., Phil Bryant, members of the Tupelo Rotary Club and the staff of the Cracker Barrel. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 213 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804-3958; The Fuller Center for Housing, 701 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Americus, GA 31719; or the First United Methodist Church, 412 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804-3818. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.   Published in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal on March 18, 2010.