Dr. James Franklin Miller

Dr. James Franklin Miller, 80, Watkinsville, GA, died Friday, April 27. He was the husband of Nancy H. Miller. They were married 571/2 years.
Born October 9, 1931, he was the oldest son of the late Johnny and Thelma Miller. He was a graduate of Terrell County High, Dawson, GA. He attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He received his BSA from the University of Georgia in 1953, majoring in Plant Pathology, his MS in 1962 and his PhD in Agronomy in 1967. He was member of Alpha Zeta and the Baptist Student Union.
James served in the U.S. Airforce from 1953 - 1956. He later enjoyed flying as a private pilot.
The couple moved to Moultrie, GA in 1957 where he began his 32 year career with the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. He was assistant county agent in Colquitt County. He returned to Athens in 1961 where he pursued his graduate degrees and was assistant county agent in Clarke County.
He served as the first full-time Weed Specialist for the Extension Service and traveled the state ministering to county agents, staff, and farmers. From 1979 - 1987 he directed the "Herbicide Development and Usage for Highways" for the Georgia DOT. He also served as Department Head of the Extension Agronomy Department and Associate Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He retired in 1989 as Professor Emeritus of Agronomy. In his celebrated career, he received many awards, including the Distinquished Service Award from the Southern Weed Science Society, the Outstanding Extension Weed Science Award and the Fellow Award from the Weed Science Society of America.
He was a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Society, the Athens Torch Club, The Classic City Tennis Club and Milledge Ave. Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and had various other responsibilities. He served on the Oconee County Tax Assessors Board for many years.
In his retirement years he was owner and operator of Miller's Blueberries for 25 years where he greeted pickers from all walks of life and shared his knowledge and love of plants and agriculture. He became a local expert on blueberries.
He and Nancy loved domestic and international travel and especially enjoyed the US Southwest where they had a second home in Surprise, AZ. They cultivated an enjoyable circle of friends there.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter Suzanne (Jim) Bailey, Midland, MI; son, James F. (Jeff) Miller, Jr. (Carol), Snellville, GA; daughter Cindy (Kent) Kurtz, Warner Robins, GA; Grandsons Daniel, John and Mark Bailey; Ben Miller and Granddaughters Summer and Allison Kurtz; brother Dr. Marvin Miller, Weslaco, TX.
Memorial services will be at Milledge Ave. Baptist Church Monday, April 30 at 2:00. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Athens Area Interfaith Hospitality Network, care of Milledge Ave. Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society. Lord and Stephens, West is in charge of arrangements.