Fallen Hero: Retired Sergeant First Class Jack McMillen

Senatobia

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Funeral Home

Ray-Nowell Funeral Home

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Obituary

Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:

Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”.

In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.

Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on Aug 5, 2024 and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Sergeant First Class Jack McMillen, age 97, who had served within the MSARNG in the 1st Squadron, 108th Armored Cavalry has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.

It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.

Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.

You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.

Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.

Jack C. McMillen, 97, of Senatobia, MS went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, August 3, 2024.

Agriculture has always been a way of life for Jack McMillen, who spent his boyhood lending a hand on his family’s farm and spent his adulthood helping farmers make decisions about their crops. Born in 1927 in Pontotoc County, the son of a Baptist preacher who farmed to help provide for his family, Jack was the eldest of four children born to John M. and Beulah McMillen.

His grammar school years were spent in various communities throughout the Union County area. Inspired by the example of his uncle, who was a county agent, he thought about following in his footsteps instead of farming. “I had a dream of becoming a county agent, but I thought I would never be one. After graduating high school, he couldn’t afford to attend college fulltime. Like many who became teachers, Jack taught while working for his teaching certificate.

By 1950, however, life changed for him as it did for many young men his age. Jack was called to service during the Korean War. Assigned to Company A of the 47th Armored Infantry Battalion, he was sent to Germany where he served for 16 months. He returned home in 1952 now able to attend college, thanks to the GI Bill, which provided college money for veterans. By January of 1953, Jack had enrolled at Mississippi State University. At the end of that semester, he married a young woman he’d grown up with Joyce Dowdy.

Working on his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education, he graduated and continued teaching school, then his dreams started to become reality when he got his first job working for the Cooperative Extension Service. In 1957, Jack went to work for the extension service in DeSoto County as a Dairy Herd Improvement Tester. His work with dairies became a trend throughout his career. While serving there, he was also in charge of 4-H youth programs. “I really enjoyed youth work,” he said, “seeing boys and girls develop into leaders.” Later he was promoted to assistant county agent.

In the meantime, Jack and his wife had two children, Jackie and Janine. He also earned a master’s degree in Extension Education in 1972. Jack spent over 20 years in the National Guard, serving in the Hernando 108th Armored Cavalry.

In 1981, he became County Agent in Tate County, leaving behind some 23 years of service in DeSoto County. Here he organized an insect scouting program and continued to have a role with youth programs. He helped with 4-H but his main responsibility was to the farmers. Throughout the years, he has also served on the Guernsey Committee of the Mid-South Fair, the advisory committee for the Mid-South Fair and he has been active in a number of civic organizations. After retiring in 1986, he joined the American Association of Retired Persons, a group he committed many years to. He helped organize an AARP chapter in Tate County and in other counties; and in 1987 was appointed to serve on the State Legislative Committee of AARP, a lobbying arm of the organization that seeks passage of bills benefitting senior citizens. Jack was active in the Lions Club, the Memphis Agriculture Club, HOPE Ministries, the Gideon’s, Optimist Club and the Senatobia/Tate County Chapter of the American Heart Association, and also volunteered in soil and water conservation. He served many years as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Senatobia and loved his church family.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 71years, Joyce, two daughters Jackie Rucker (Rusty) of Germantown, TN, Janine Marshall (Kelvin) of Senatobia, MS. Four Grandchildren, Ryan Marshall (Brittany), Anna Grace Parker (Chris), Brad Marshall and Dana Marshall Smith (Matt), 8 great-grandchildren and sister Dorothy McCord (James) of Pontotoc, MS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Reverend John and Beulah McMillen, his brothers Gerald McMillen and Reverend Kenneth McMillen, and his great-granddaughter Emersyn Marshall.

Visitation will take place on August 9, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Senatobia, beginning at 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM. The funeral service will follow beginning at 2:00 PM. Ray-Nowell Funeral Home-Senatobia is entrusted with arrangements.

Memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church Senatobia or the Gideon’s International-Senatobia.