Ben J. Miller

Judge Ben J. Miller, Sr., age 73, of Thomaston, died Friday Morning in Upson Regional Medical Center. Memorial Services will be held Saturday Morning at 11 o'clock in the First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Albert E. Simmons will officiate, with Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the Church following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Flint Riverkeeper, POB 468, Albany, Georgia 31702. Judge Miller was born on March 11, 1936, to Charles C. Miller, Sr., and Marie Moore Miller. He grew up and was educated in the Richland, Georgia Public Schools. He attended North Georgia College and transferred to the University of Georgia, graduating in 1958. Judge Miller fulfilled his military obligation in the U. S. Army and ran the family dairy farm. He went into the construction business with his brother Charles until 1962 when he and Sandra Jane Johnson were married. He entered the University of Georgia Law School the same month. Judge Miller graduated from Law School in l965, and became associated with the Thomaston Law Firm of Adams and Barfield, whre he became a partner in 1966. He left the law firm on July 1, 1969 to accept the appointment of District Attorney of the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Judge Miller accepted the appointment to become a Superior Court Judge of the Griffin Judicial Circuit on July 1, 1977, where he served until retirment in 2002. Judge Miller was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Thomaston, the Thomaston Bar Association, and the Griffin Circuit Bar Association. Judge Miller is survived by: His Wife - Mrs. Sandra J. Miller, of Thomaston; 5 Daughters - Brighte Miller, of Thomaston; Laney Smith (Chuck) of Newman; Rachel Eidson (Danny), of Marietta; Carolyn Bentley (Jonathan), of Hamilton; and Shelly (Muffy) Helms (Russell), of Athens; 2 Sons - Ben J. Miller, Jr., (Mandy) of Thomaston; and John J. Miller (Katie), of Atlanta; 1 Brother - Charles Miller, of Richland; 11 grandchildren - Charles Smith, Cameron Smith, and Chandler Smith, all of Newman; Grace Eidson and Shelly Eidson, both of Marietta; Ike Bentley and Brandt Bentley, both of Hamilton; Zachery Helms, of Athens; Natalie Miller and Knox Miller, both of Thomaston; and Thomas Miller, of Atlanta.