J.W. McMillian Obit. 1925, Milledgeville, GA

J.W. McMillian Obit. 1925, Milledgeville, GA From the Milledgeville Recorder, published December 17, 1925

Mr. J.W. McMillan Passed Away Early Last Wednesday Morning
After an illness of Several Weeks This Well Known Citizen is Called to Rest.
Funeral Services Friday Morning.

Mr. J. W. McMillan is dead.

Milledgeville mourns the death of one of its most prominent citizens. This well known and highly respected citizen quietly and peacefully passed away at his home on South Jefferson Street a few minutes after nine o’clock Wednesday morning, December 16th.
Mr. McMillan, on his return from a visit to his old home in Glasgow, Scotland, was stricken with a throat affliction upon his arrival in New York, and after reaching home on October 15, was confined to his home. The administration of physicians and loved ones failed to stay the disease and he gradually yielded to the grim reaper. He realized that the end was near and expressed a readiness to go, making all preparations and giving directions as to his wishes relative to the last rites of his burial.
The funeral services will be held at the Presbyterian Church Friday morning at 11:30, Rev. T.G. Watts officiating. The remains will be buried in the family squaree [sic] in the city cemetery. Mayor J.H. Ennis has issued a proclamation, requesting the merchants to close their stores and suspend business during the hour of the service.

Mr. McMillan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 5th [sic] 1850, and when eighteen years of age he came to the United States and made his home in Philadelphia. A short while afterwards he returned to Scotland to be present at the marriage of his sister. He then came back to Philadelphia and lived for a year. From there he came to Georgia and located in Madison, engaging in the building business. Over forty years ago he was awarded the contract to furnish brick for the building for the colored insane at the Georgia State Sanitarium and came here, establishing a brick yard on Camp Creek. When this contract was finished he decided to come to Milledgeville and made his home.

He established the Milledgeville Brick Works and brought a home, thus becoming a permanent resident of the city. From that day until his death he was prominent in the affairs of the city and contributed largely to its life and progress.

Mr. McMillan knew the brick business thoroughly and under his management a high class brick was made and the demand for the product spread as its work was recognized. The business grew and enlarged, and twelve or thirteen years ago it was incorporated. Mr. McMillan continued its management and directed its affairs. Additions were made, increasing its output. It is not one of the best know enterprises of its kind in the state.

Mr. McMillan was fair and considerate toward the colored men who worked for him and they held him in the highest confidence and esteem. Several of them who began work with him when the enterprise was established are still in the employ of the company and in one instance three generations are working there. His colored employes [sic] will attend the funeral and burial service in a body.

Mr. McMillan was a man of broad vision and had great faith in the possibilities of this section and its future development, and was always ready to give of his time and means for its upbuilding.
He was well informed and was most entertaining in conversation, being always pleasant and affable in his relation with his fellow man, discussing any question which might arise intelligently and forcefully, and relating an anecdote most interestingly, which was always made more so by his Scotch accent.

He was a builder and believed in progress and advancement, and his public spirit was manifested when the occasion presented itself, being always ready to contribute to civic improvement and betterment. He was charitable and gave of his means to those who needed his assistance and aid. He was of the Presbyterian faith and was a regular contributor to the [unreadable] of the church of that denomination in this city.
Mr. McMillan loved poetry and music and his taste for these always prominently manifested itself in his nature. He was a great admirer of Robert Burns, the poet of his native land, and was a member of the Robert Burns Society of Georgia.

He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, and was a regular attendant at the meetings and luncheons, and at the last meeting of that organization was reelected a member of the Board of Directors. His presence was always an inspiration to the members as his social genial spirit was in evidence.

Mr. McMillan measured up to a high standard as a man and a citizen and his place in this community will be hard to fill. He will be missed and the work he wrought here will always be remembered.

Mr. McMillan is survived by Mrs. McMillan and the following sons and daughters: Messrs. Robert McMillan of this city, Neal McMillan of Atlanta, Jim McMillan of this city, Donald McMillan of Griffin, Kenneth McMillan of this city, Miss Bell McMillan, Mrs. J.W. Marchman of Columbus, Mrs. A.W. Tisdale, Mrs. Bertha Davenport, Mrs. Geo. Bayne of Macon, and Mrs. Dessie McMillan, several grandchildren and a sister in London.