Jesse Howard James Miller, 87, of Florence, Alabama, passed away Saturday, November 1, 2025, in Marietta, Georgia.
He was born February 3, 1938, in Florence as the son of the late Charles and Sallie Miller. Jess worked and lived in several locales, including Florence, Alabama, Chicago, Illinois, Waverly, Tennessee, Haleyville, Alabama, and Jackson, Alabama, as a caring public servant who valued human life over personal gain. After his four years in the Air Force, where he played professional baseball in Japan, Jess prospered in Corporate America before leaving that arena to serve the public as a City Manager and Economic Developer. He spent his life committed to outwardly helping large collections of communities while silently supporting family, friends, and strangers. Jess enjoyed playing tennis, traveling, reading and writing poetry, and using his intellectual gifts (Valedictorian of High School, Salutatorian in College, and a 4.0 GPA in his Master of Business Administration) to find solutions to complicated logistical community issues.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Billy Nunley of Spanish Fort, Alabama, his son and daughter-in-law, Erik and Sally Miller of Marietta, Georgia, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Jess was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Christine Miller (d. 2014), and his second wife, Joann Miller (d. 2023); his son, Matthew Fitzgerald Miller; and his brothers Ralph, Luther, Clyde, Melvin, and Fred.
Friends and family are invited to the graveside service at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 7, at Tri-Cities Cemetery in Florence, Alabama.