Obituary of Thomas Wayne McMillan

Aiken, SC — Thomas Wayne McMillan, 75, died Monday, July 9, 2018 at the University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, following a brief illness.

     He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Jordan McMillan; two sons, both of Aiken: Soren McMillan, and Tiernan McMillan with wife Lauren and son, Hayden; one daughter, Tirzah McMillan Blackburn of Greenville, South Carolina; his mother: Catherine Rhoden of Aiken; two brothers: Michael McMillan of Mililani, Hawaii, and William Rhoden of Landrum, South Carolina; and one cousin, Leslie McMillan Lackey of Statesville, NC.

     Born in Aiken and a lifelong resident, Thomas was the son of James Edwin McMillan and his wife Catherine.At the age of two, he tragically lost his father in the sinking of the USS Drexler on May 28, 1945, off the coast of Okinawa.  A graduate of Aiken High School, Thomas developed a strong interest in architecture through his incidental exposure to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright in a high school textbook.  His fascination with the design of buildings propelled him to graduate with honors from his beloved alma mater, Clemson University, obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

     After college graduation, he served honorably in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 9thEngineer Battalion, stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany, from 1967 to 1969.  Returning to Aiken upon separation from active duty, Thomas practiced architecture in Aiken for 40 years, producing a significant body of work in the local area that has survived him.

     Most significantly, he married his beloved wife, Mary, on June 19, 1970, and the two of them enjoyed a fruitful and happy marriage for the remainder of his life, being blessed with three devoted children and a precious grandson.

     Thomas was a man of great and varied interests, in addition to his vocational work. He had an enduring fascination with horticulture, being able to recite the Latin names for all types of “growies”, his affectionate term for plant life.  He loved musicals, both in the theater and on film.  Also, he used his artistic ability to paint several works of art, given to family members.  A man who loved poetry, Thomas committed to memory several classic works, with which he blessed his children.  He was always known as a voracious reader, loving to consume book after book.

     Above all, Thomas’ greatest passion was his faith in God and his devotion to being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was a man of the Scriptures, devoted to its daily reading and studying.  And he was a man committed to participation in ministry over the years at Kalmia Hill Chapel, Cedar Creek Church, and Cornerstone Baptist Church.  The most visible expression of his godliness was his gentle spirit and kindhearted love shown to family, to friends, indeed to all who brushed his path.  He will be sorely missed.

     The family will receive friends at George Funeral Home in Aiken on Friday, July 13, 6pm-8pm.  Funeral services will be held at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Aiken on Saturday, July 14, at 1pm, with Rev. Darrell Engle officiating.  Interment will follow at Aiken Memorial Gardens.  Pallbearers will include Ashley Alexander, Greg Bowen, Patrick Cormany, Joseph Keller, Travis McKinney, and Jason Widener.

     The Historic George Funeral Home, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements.