William Herbert “Bill” Mills Jr., 88, of Statesboro, Georgia, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Born April 8, 1938, in Sardis, Georgia, Bill was the son of William Herbert Mills and Claudine Talbert Mills.

He attended high school at Sardis High School and Emory at Oxford and later attended the University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University.

In 1959, he entered the United States Army and spent three years in service, including an assignment in Stuttgart, Germany. He was recognized for his outstanding conduct during his military service before returning to Statesboro in 1962.

In 1963, he married his beloved wife, Joan Knox Mills. Their marriage spanned more than six decades, and together they raised two sons, Gary and William Herbert “Billy” Mills III.

Bill had an entrepreneurial spirit and a talent for building things. He opened the Statesboro Belk, Henry’s in downtown Statesboro and Lakeview General Store. He later devoted more than 20 years to his passion for fine wood-working and custom cabinetry.

He was also a longtime member of the Statesboro Men’s Supper Club and First Baptist Church Statesboro.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Malona Mills Dixon and Gloria Mills Saxon.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Knox Mills; his sons, Gary (Kelly) Mills and Billy (Janet) Mills; and five grandchildren, Kyle (Natalie) Mills, Clay Mills, Allison Mills (Connor) Laubenthal, Katie Mills and Wyatt Mills.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home, with Dr. John Waters officiating. The family received friends briefly after the service, followed by a private burial at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville.

Pallbearers were Kyle Mills, Clay Mills, Wyatt Mills, Michael Dixon, Olin Lovett, Dennis Snyder, Dale Oglesby and Chad Faulk.

Honorary pallbearers were Billy Allen, J.R. Holloway and Isrea Gray.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church Statesboro, 108 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458.

Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.

Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Statesboro Herald, September 3, 2026

Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.