Deacon Eugene Miller, Sr., 85, of Palatka, departed this life on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at his residence following a brief illness. The 10th of 13 children, he was born to Edgar and Beulah (West) Miller, on Sunday, June 21, 1925 in Springvale, Georgia. He received his formal education in the Quitman County, GA., public school system. In 1945, he served in the U.S. Army, during the World War II era and earned an honorable discharge. In 1948, he married Queen Ollie Honey Bivens in Arcadia and they relocated to Palatka and were blessed with six wonderful childrenthree sons and three daughters. Always feeling the call of the Lord, Eugene was a faithful member of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, under the tutelage of Reverend C. R. Townsel, where he was ordained as a deacon. In 1952, he joined Bethlehem Baptist Church, where he served faithfully for over 50 years. In 2004, upon the demise of his soul-mate, Honey, Deacon Miller affiliated with the EMBASSY International Church Fellowship with Dr. W. C. Chambliss, III, Senior Pastor and his youngest daughter Dr. Brenda C. Miller, Co-Pastor and caregiver. He was quite active in his community, NAACP member, encouraging many to register and vote, represented the poor and underprivileged, and organized the House of Little People which allowed working mothers to have a safe place to leave their children while working. He was one of 25 original charter members of the Putnam County Federal Credit Union. He was a building contractor and carpenter formerly employed at Florida Furniture Industries.

Preceding him in eternal rest: beloved wife; parents; brothers: John Calvin, Edward, Luther Dean, Johnny Will, Elijah, and Edgar Miller, Jr., sisters: Ethel Mae Williams, Annie Willis Calvin, Mildred Flagg, and Josie Benton; granddaughter, Shanta Cristina Burden; great granddaughter, Tierra Brianna Williams.

To cherish his memory: beloved children: Eugene Miller Jr.,(Tina), Palatka; Larry Donnell Miller, Sr., New Smyrna Beach; Rev. Ophelia Maxine (Pastor Willie) Ogburn, White Plains, MD; Cassandra Yvonne (St. Clair) Kennedy, Palm Coast; Dr. Brenda C. Miller, Palatka; Leonardo Di-Vinci (Karen) Miller, Clarksburg, TN; sisters, Rosa Lee Cannon, Titusville; Essie Mae Myles, Okeechobee; brother-in-law, George W. Flagg, Sr., Raleigh, NC; two sisters- in-law, Hiawatha Miller, Los Angeles, CA; Erma Miller, Fayetteville, NC., 20 Grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews, devoted niece, Lenora Taylor; devoted friend, R. T. Clay, Florahome; devoted pastor (son), Dr. W. C. Chambliss, III, Interlachen; god children, Daisy Hogan and Ron Sharp; Special thanks to Senior Health Care, Gainesville and Hospice of the Nature Coast.

Visitation of family and friends will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, January 28 (today) at Chapel of Serenity. Homegoing Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, January 29, at Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church, 4909 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka. Dr. W. C. Chambliss, III, pastor of EMBASSY International Church Fellowship, St. Augustine, is the eulogist.

Interment will be in Oak Hill West Cemetery with Military Honors.

The cortege will assemble on Saturday at 10:20 a.m. at the Millers residence, 122 Shadow Lawn Street, Palatka.