Joseph Larry McMillan, 82, of Vancleave, MS passed away surrounded by loved ones at his home on May 5, 2023. He was born April 12, 1941, in Vancleave, the youngest of 13 children born to Walter and Marie McMillan. He was very proud of his hometown and was known while on vacation to tell people that, "Biloxi was in the Southwest corner of Vancleave." He graduated from Vancleave High School in 1959, where he was a very accomplished student-athlete. He was a member of the football, baseball, basketball, track team, and was voted Mr. VHS. In 2019, he was part of the inaugural class of the Vancleave Athletic Hall of Fame for his athletic accomplishments. He joined the Army in 1963 and was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, int he carpentry shop that was support services for the Green Berets. He was honorably discharged in 1965 and returned home. He married the love of his life, Birtie Molinda Goff McMillan, in 1967. He worked for Liberty National Life Insurance Company and Fridgitemp Ship Building before starting his own business, McMillan Construction. He dedicated his life to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a long-time youth leader, pastor, and minister of the Vancleave RLDS branch. He touched so many lives throughout the community with his Christian example of love and guidance. He would tell people, "If I can take my heart out and place it in you, you would know how much God loves you." His legacy and influence will continue to be felt in the hearts of the community.

He was met at the gates of heaven by his parents, Walter and Marie McMillan, sister Margaret Selena McMillan Kucifer, brothers James W. McMillan, Walter Levene McMillan, Robert Curtis McMillan, Daniel Cecil McMillan, Donald Lafayette McMillan, Mitchell Elwood (Woody) McMillan, Guy Vaughn McMillan, Homer Gray McMillan, Sr., Huey Doyle McMillan, Ervin Earl McMillan, a special cousin, Harold Grant McMillan, and many more family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Birtie Molinda Goff McMillan, daughters Idona (Paul) Donnelly, and Iris (Allen) Simmons, grandchildren Thomas, Sarah, and Patrick Donnelly, Julie (JL) Perry, Janey Shimp, Emma, Eva, and Taylor Simmons, brother and sister-in-law Otis (Jessie) McMillan, sisters-in-law Lucy, Shirley, and Dale McMillan, life-long friend Mary Ellen Pryor, and numerous nephews, nieces, family, and friends.

Services will be held at the Vancleave RLDS church at 12205 Mt. Pleasant Road in Vancleave, MS on May 12, 2023 with visitation from 9-11am and funeral at 11am. Service will be officiated by Elder JoAnn Lutes and assisted by Elder Jimmy Goff. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.