Ernest W. Mills

Ernest W. Mills was born on September 6, 1933, in Nashville, TN and passed away on July 22, 2020, in Mount Juliet at home with his wife and family members. He was the only son of James and Zelma Mills. He attended Cumberland High School where he met and married his wife of 66 years, Beverly South. Together they raised three children Karen, Steve, and Paul. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, his children and their spouses, Karen Mills and Lhoussain Benayad, Steve and Carla Mills, and Paul and Kelly Mills, as well as six grandchildren, Will Crowthers and his wife Anne, Nicholas Rogers, Landon Mills and his wife Elizabeth, MacKayla Mills, Spencer Mills, and Lindsey Mills, as well as one great-grandson, Rowan Mills.

Ernest attended David Lipscomb College and upon graduating, was drafted into the U.S. Army. He attended The Adjutant General’s School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, and then transferred to Fort Meade in Laurel, MD where he continued his work with the army on computers. After his military service, he worked at the Nashville Co-op as an accountant and for over 30 years, until retirement, as a Controller for the Central State Psychiatric Hospital in Nashville. He was a member of the Rotary Club, The American Legion of Retired Veterans, and a member of the congregation at Andrew Price United Methodist Church in Donelson. (Now called, Connection UMC).

His aunts, uncles, and cousins knew Ernest, as “Sonny Boy” because of his sunny disposition. He was a talented painter and often drew caricatures for friends and family. He took art classes at Centennial Park. He liked to make people laugh. After retirement, he moved to Old Hickory Lake in Mt. Juliet where he enjoyed his lifetime passion for boating and fishing and took up feeding the geese that migrated in the area. He was an avid animal lover and owned goats, chickens, rabbits, and many dogs, and cats throughout his life. He enjoyed gathering with his local friends for breakfast and coffee. Ernest will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Honorary pallbearers are David Sherrill, Harold Shackelford, Jimmy Schroeder, Billy Baker, Jimmy South, Mel Hunter, David Donaldson, and Steve Duren.

No services are currently scheduled, but a memorial service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Andrew Price United Methodist Church, 2846 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HermitageFH.com for the Mills family.