Obituary of Rev. James H. Miller

Funeral services for Rev. James H. Miller are scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Spearsville with Rev. Neil Everett, Rev. Barry Joyner, Rev. James David Miller and Rev. Tim Post officiating. Interment will follow in the Spearsville Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church at 1:00 PM. Rev. Miller, a resident at Arbor Lake Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Farmerville, Louisiana, passed away on March 25, 2026, at the age of 89. He was born on March 9, 1937. Rev. Miller was licensed to the gospel ministry on July 1, 1953 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Florien, Louisiana. He preached the gospel and served as a pastor in Louisiana Baptist churches for more than 70 years. He served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Spearsville on two different occasions for 25 years. He was widely known for his love for the people he served, his big smile, caring heart and those wonderful Baptist eatin’ meetin’s. He was faithful to preach the Bible with conviction and compassion. He led hundreds of people to Jesus Christ through his preaching and pastoral ministry. He grew up in Florien, Louisiana, where he graduated from Florien High School and later attended Louisiana College, Pineville. He actively served in leadership positions in Baptist associations and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He was always very active in the communities where he lived and served. He leaves behind a family whom he loved with all his heart including his son, Alan Miller (Sandy); his daughter, Jan Rachal (Joe); his grandchildren, Joshua Deere (Brittany), Katie Dupuy (Daniel), Kelsie Scharr (Jacob), James David Miller (Fiance-Kaitlyn), Aaron Rachal (Jordan), Avery Glass (Bryce); ten great-grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Linda Miller; nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Shirley Self Miller and his second wife, Mary Bowen Miller; his parents, Clayton and Velma Miller; and his brother, Bill Miller. Pallbearers will be Joshua Deere, James David Miller, Jacob Scharr, Billy Martin, Stanley Lenard and Ronnie Parks. Honorary pallbearer is Jeff Bennett. The family would like to give sincere thanks to the wonderful staff at Arbor Lake, Reeves Memorial Medical Center, Elara Caring Hospice, Golden Funeral Home, local churches, pastors and faithful friends for their compassionate care of our father, Rev. James H. Miller. Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church, Spearsville, PO Box 85, Spearsville, LA 71277.