William Courtney Mills Jr. was born in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to Col. William C. Mills of Mooresville, NC, and Sally Mae (Smith) Mills of Benton, LA. He died in Gainesville, GA, on August 25, 2023, at age 85.
Courtney was reared in Shreveport, LA, and attended Staunton Military Academy in Virginia and Byrd High School in Shreveport. Joining the U.S. Army in 1958, he served in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. He later graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in aeronautics and attended Georgia State University while pursuing a master’s degree in psychology. He then spent 20 years with Aubrey Daniels International in Atlanta as a management consultant.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Barbara Ann (Baron) Mills, and by his two stepchildren, Erin Elizabeth Becker (Jeremiah) and Peter Andrew Gray (Alicia); four children, William Courtney Mills III (Hayley), Amanda McClellan Mills, Alfred Jackson Mills (Courtney), and Matthew Augustine Mills; 21 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Courtney brought laughter to the people around him since he had a ready smile on his face and was always quick with a joke. He loved the Lord more than anything else. He was an avid reader of history, mysteries, and Westerns, but he loved reading the scriptures the most. He served as an elder at Cherokee Presbyterian Church and Little River Church in Cherokee County.
A family memorial service will be held at a later date.
You may sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence at www.wardsfh.com.
Ward’s Funeral Home of Gainesville is honored to serve the family of William Courtney Mills, Jr.
