On November 5, 2023, Scott Francis Miller, 85, passed away peacefully in his home at Lake Caroline in Madison, Mississippi from respiratory complications.
He was born in Jackson, Mississippi on January 7, 1938, to Harold Dewey Miller, Sr, and Dorothy Maurer Miller. Scott spent most of his life primarily in Jackson, he was the born the 5th of 6 Miller brothers. After his mother Dorothy died at the age of 39, his father remarried Missye Gibson Brickell in 1950. Missye added her three boys to their wonderful family to make it a full house of 9 brothers.
Scott was a 1955 graduate of Central High School. He attended the University of Notre Dame until, according to his stories, he was having too much fun and he was brought home to attend Millsaps College to get “serious” about his studies. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Millsaps. Scott then completed his education at The University of Tennessee with a degree in Transportation, and an active Pike Fraternity life.
After college, Scott immediately began his career working for the tank truck company his father started in 1942, Miller Transporters, Inc. H.D. Miller, Sr started the company to handle the increasing demand for tank truck carriers during WWII due to the Federal Government prohibiting the transportation of petroleum products by rail. Scott proudly served in the National Guard.
In 1963 Scott met the love of his life, Sandra Starr Smith from Montgomery, Alabama. Starr was living in Jackson attending Belhaven University, and they met through mutual friends. They married in 1964. In 1968, Scott and Starr’s only child was born, a daughter named Virginia Trenton Miller.
Scott worked for Miller Transporters for 49 years alongside his brothers and other family members. For 30 years he Presided over the company until his retirement at the age of 70. Under his leadership, Miller rose to become one of the top tank truck companies in the United States with trucks carrying loads in 48 states, Canada, and Mexico.
Scott was a well-respected heavy weight in the tank truck industry. He was affiliated with The Mississippi Trucking Association, The American Trucking Association, and The National Tank Truck Carriers Association. During his Presidency, Miller Transporters was awarded many prestigious awards, most based on the company’s safety records for their drivers. “Safety First” was his constant goal and also the motto for the company. In 2017 Scott was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Tank Truck Carriers Association. He was a member of the Young Presidents Organization, and The World Presidents Organization. Scott was active locally in The Rotary Club of Jackson, a former board member of Deposit Guaranty National Bank, and a member, former board member and former president of The Country Club of Jackson.
Scott enjoyed keeping in the loop with his Central High School friends and eating weekly with “Retired Truckers” lunch group. His hobbies included a love of golf and watching football, traveling the world with his wife Starr and dear friends, and relaxing with his family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Scott instilled his love of the American road trip with his 2 grandsons. He would plan for months to take them on yearly epic trips by plane, train, or automobile. Recently he had become a casual pontoon boat captain at Lake Caroline since he and Starr moved there in 2015. He took intense pleasure out of riding around the lake blowing his boat horn at various relatives and neighbors until they came out on their dock to wave. While these hobbies were enjoyable, his most cherished hobby was his passion for his tank trucks, and he talked about them daily.
Anyone who knew Scott realized he was the wittiest person in the room, and he kept his sense of humor until the end. He had a genuine love for people and always wanted to know where you were from, who your parents or grandparents were, and where you worked. He enjoyed making personal connections which helped him to become such a devout family man and leader of the company.
Scott is survived by his wife of almost 60 years Starr, daughter Trenton, grandsons Maxwell Miller Milam and John Scott Milam, and his beloved poodles Talulah and Marlena.
He was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy Maurer Miller, his father Harold Dewey Miller, Sr., his second mother Missye Gibson Brickell Miller, and his 8 brothers: Harold Dewey Miller, Jr., Dennis Maurer Miller, Sr., James Anthony (Jamie) Miller, Richard Lee (Dick) Miller, Jerome Stuart Miller, Carey Manuel Brickell, Jr., Henry Mitchell Brickell, and Robert Herschel Brickell.
Starr and Trenton are most grateful to Scott’s special caregivers who kept him happy and comfortable throughout his illness. Many thanks to Johnnie Van Hoosier and Kimberly Weathersby.
As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to CARA Community Animal Rescue & Adoption, P. O. Box 231, Clinton, MS 39060, carams.org
Arrangements are being handled by Wright and Ferguson in Flowood, MS and are as follows:
Friday November 10, 2023
Visitation 1 pm - 3 pm at Wright and Ferguson Flowood, MS
Cocktails and Stories of Scott 4 pm -6 pm at Georgia Blue Madison, MS
