William R. Miles
December 21, 1917 – October 2, 2016

Funeral services for William R. Miles, 98, of Cairo, GA, are at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at Mizpah Primitive Baptist Church, Pelham, GA. Elder James R. Smith and Elder Walter Todd will officiate. Services will conclude in the church. Private interment will be in Mizpah Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Pelham GA. Mr. Miles passed away at Magnolia Place of Cairo, GA, on Sunday morning, October 2, 2016.

Active pallbearers will be Robert Brooks, Garry Childs, Mickey Davis, Jeffery Godwin and Ethan Godwin. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Primitive Baptist Churches.

Mr. Miles was born on December 21, 1917, in Macon, GA. He was reared by his grandparents, Elba and Ida Clements Miles. His mother was Eula Bell Coker. All preceded him in death. He married Monteen Williams Miles on December 7, 1942. She died March 5, 2008. Mr. Miles traveled to Texas in 1935 to live with cousins, including Juanita Miles Eberhart and Bernice Miles Haley, who survive. He joined the Army in February 1936, and served for two years at Ft. Clark, Texas in the Calvary. He re-enlisted in 1938 and served until 1945. During this time, he was stationed at Ft. Benning, Columbus, GA and later served in Newfoundland. He returned to Georgia and farmed for nine years. Realizing that the military was his calling, he re-enlisted for the third time and was stationed in Germany, Korea, Alaska and New York. He retired from the Army in 1970 and returned to Cairo with his loving wife “Cookie.” He began another career working in construction work, building houses, painting, and general house repairs for many people in and around Grady County. He endeared himself to everyone who knew him because of his gentle, willing ways to help others, often at a reduced price. He was also known as the saw and scissors sharpener. He joined Mizpah Primitive Baptist Church and was baptized July 7, 1991. He was a faithful member, served as a Deacon and true to his nature, assisted in a building addition and general maintenance at church and grounds of Mizpah.

He and his wife had no children, and he has outlived most of his cousins.

In lieu of flowers, he requested that donation be made to Mizpah P.B. Church, c/o A. S. Godwin, 1204 Mizpah Road, Whigham, GA 39897.