Samuel "Sammy" McMillan Obituary

Samuel “Sammy” William McMillan, 74, of Terry, Mississippi passed away April 30, 2025, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2025, at First Pentecostal Church Jackson, 5000 I-55 South, Jackson, Mississippi 39272 and 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 3, 2025. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 3, 2025, at First Pentecostal Church Jackson. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m., at Wake Forest Cemetery in Thomastown, Mississippi, 8584 MS-429, Kosciusko, Mississippi 39090. Rev. Greg Frazier and Rev. Hansel Stanley will officiate the services.

Sammy was born on November 21, 1950, in Attala County, Mississippi to Samuel Leroy McMillan and Gladys Laverne Odom McMillan. He attended Pentecostal Bible Institute, Holmes Junior College and Mississippi State. After 33 years at Kroger, he retired. Sammy was a member of First Pentecostal Church Jackson for 25 years. Church was a big part of his life from a child, growing up in a Pastor's home with parents that had a heart for building Churches and Missions.

He loved to sing and play music. He taught himself to play "slip-note" style piano by listening to Floyd Cramer recordings. He played the piano for his family and friends, for his church, the "Waymakers", "The Kingstons" and "The Singing Echoes". He could strumm a little guitar, and was known to have a harmonica handy and ready to join in at any opportunity.

He had many hobbies, the latest of which was coin collecting.

Sammy enjoyed spending time outdoors, hunting, camping and gardening. He was always on the look for the next adventure, from Colorado to Alaska, the Middle East, Europe and beyond. He has traveled to every US state except Hawaii. He loved the mountains. He had his own description for them, "Beautimos". In 1988 his dream of living amongst them became a reality when he moved to Colorado Springs, CO. He resided there with his family for 13 years before returning to his home state.

Sam never met a stranger or anybody he couldn't strike up a conversation with. He loved to talk about his adventures, his newest gadgets he'd acquired and hobbies to anyone that would lend an ear. You can be sure someone up there is hearing all about it right now.

Sammy is survived by his wife, Rebecca Lepard McMillan; son, Gregory McMillan of Byram, Mississippi; daughter, Robin D. (Kris) Tapia of Byram, Mississippi; sister, Linda D. (Bruce) Schexnayder of Raymond, Mississippi; aunt, Sara Petty of Dickson, Tennessee and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Leroy McMillan and Gladys Laverne Odom.