April 11, 2023, 92, Grantham –
Roy Clayton Mills, 92, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Wayne County on July 9, 1930, he was the son of the late Charles Street and Catherine Kleinert Mills.
In addition to his parents, Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Ingram Mills; son, Roy Wayne Mills; brothers, Marvin Mills, Charles Mills, Norwood Mills, Horace Mills, and Ralph Mills; sisters, Lorraine Raynor and Lois Mills; grandchildren, Sarah Carlton, Cotton Best, and Jeremy Carlton.
Roy is survived by his wife, Nannie Cotton Mills; son, Randy Lee Mills; daughter-in-law, Donna Cotton Mills; step-daughters, Deane C. Best (Richard), Melinda C. Carlton, and Julie C. Whitfield (Bobby Joe); grandchildren, Pamela Jean “Pam” Mills Evans (John Oliver), Donnarie Mills Hales (Allen), Hannah Best, Will Best, Stephen Carlton, Rachel Carlton, Brittany Williams (Jamie), and Jackson Whitfield; great-grandchildren, Clayton Stewart, Reagan Hales, Madeline Stewart, Benton Hales, Hattie Williams, and Mayven Williams; and several nieces and nephews.
Roy was well-known across Eastern North Carolina in the logging industry. He worked his entire life and up until the last several months he still enjoyed being in the woods running a bulldozer. Roy took great pride in working alongside his sons in the family business, RWR Logging.
For the last 64 years, you could count on Roy eating supper on Saturday evenings at The Country Squire in Warsaw. The only reason he wouldn’t be at The Squire was if they were closed.
Roy was a dedicated and faithful member of Eureka Christian Church in the Grantham community.
A service to celebrate Roy’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 14, 2023, in the sanctuary of Eureka Christian Church with his pastor, Rev. Frank Purvis, and Rev. Michael Sykes officiating. Interment will follow at Wayne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Seymour Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be directed to the Carlisle Purvis Scholarship Fund at Eureka Christian Church, 2036 Dobbersville Road, Mount Olive, NC 28365 or NC Log A Load for Kids, www.nclogaloadforkids.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
