David Lewis Miller, 58, a resident of Chatawa, Mississippi passed away on March 19, 2022 peacefully in the comfort of his home.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at Hartman-Jones Funeral home of McComb. The service to follow at 12:00 pm. Mike Causey will officiate. The family wishes for a private burial.

Born in Houston Texas, David was the third son of Dr. Ted R. Miller and Amelia Yorke Miller. The family moved to Chatawa, Mississippi in 1975. David and his two brothers, Robert and Jim, enjoyed a great childhood growing up on the land. David began 7th grade at Parklane Academy. It was his first time to be introduced to organized team sports. At Parklane, he played basketball and football in which he lettered each year. In basketball, he was part of some of the winningest teams in Parklane history. In football, David started 11 consecutive years, starting at Parklane Academy Junior High, High School, NCAA Division 1 Louisiana Tech University.

During his senior year at Parklane Academy, he signed with Mississippi College in Jackson, Mississippi. That summer he had a change of heart. After being approached by Louisiana Tech, David chose Louisiana Tech, a Division 1 team. David ended his football career playing in the NCAA Division National Championship game verses Montana in Charleston, South Carolina. David lettered in every season of football he played.

David's other love was aviation. His father was a decorated war hero in WWII flying the B-17 flying fortress. David got his private license at Fernwood Airport in 1983 and went on to get his bachelor's degree in aviation with a minor in business at La. Tech University. With football over and a fresh degree in aviation with licenses in single engine aircraft, multi engine aircraft, instrument ratings, flight instructor, airline transport and flight instructor instrument. He was hired by La. Tech to become a flight instructor in their aviation department where he would stay for the next two years before being hired by Davison Transport in which he flew as a corporate pilot for the next seven years. With peace time and an abundance of airline pilots, David chose to venture into business for himself and over the next 30 years he ran his own businesses.

He also began his own black angus cattle operation over 20 years ago on his farm. Several years back, he turned the reins over to his son Jacob to operate. He was talented beyond measure in so many areas and as such accomplished much in his days here with us. He was a successful business man, a pilot, a flight instructor, a certified welder, and a licensed real estate broker. His hobbies included any and every adventure with his son, playing guitar, painting and sketching. In 2001, he hit a Hole-In-One while golfing with his wife and dear friends at The Bluff's in St. Francisville's signature hole number 17. As much as he enjoyed sunsets, his favorite time of the day was sunrise.

He was first and foremost a God fearing man who loved his wife and his son with his entire being. David and his wife shared over 30 years of love and life and adventure together. Their love was true and deep and will endure for all eternity. If you knew David, you knew his best friend and favorite person in the world is his son Jacob. He was a great dad to a wonderful son.

There are no words that could describe the unbreakable bond and love they had for each other. As such, below is an excerpt and prayer that portrays the way David felt about his son.

I closed my eyes for but a moment and suddenly a man stood where a boy used to be. I may not carry you in my arms but I will carry you in my heart. You have given me so many reasons to be proud of the man you have become, but the proudest moment for me is telling others that you are my son. Always and Forever

A Prayer For My Son
Dear God, I gratefully thank you for giving me my son. You must really love me 'cause You gave the best you had. Watch over him and bless him Lord and keep him in Your care. And may he feel my love for him, is my humble heartfelt prayer.

David shared a lifelong friendship with Richard Boggs and many others based on mutual respect and brotherly love to all who knew him as a great man and friend. David's most remarkable accomplishment is his eternal legacy of love for his family. He protected, supported, adored and loved his wife, his son, his stepchildren, and his grandchildren. He lived by example and was a mountain of a man with great dignity, instilling in all a responsibility of truth, honor and hard work.

The family would like to thank their friends, neighbors, the Parklane Academy family, and David's Louisiana Tech's football family for the outpouring of love and support and most importantly the prayers. Our hearts are so heavy and we would not be able to get through this most difficult time in our life without you. For this, my children and I will always be grateful. And this is where the cowboy rides away.

He was proceeded in death by his father, Dr. Ted Miller, his mother Amy Miller, his brother James "Jim" Miller, and his father-in-law Frank Guidroz Jr.

He is survived by his wife Linda Guidroz Miller, his son Jacob Miller, his two step-daughters Cara Thibodeaux (Wade), Erika Jenkins (Travis), step-son Dwayne Belello, Jr, (Morgan), his seven grandchildren, Isabella, Dominic, Gage, Jayce, Tate, James and Rose, his brother Robert L. Miller, his mother-in-law Mary Jane Guidroz, three sister-in-laws Sonia Hearn (Brooks), Brenda Bates (Jeff) and Mona Rafeedie (Peter).

Pallbearers are Jacob Miller, Dwayne Belello, Jr, Wade Thibodeaux, Travis Jenkins, Richard Boggs, Mike Causey, Jordan Stanley and Charlie Stroud.

In lieu of flowers donations made be made to the American Heart Association.