Joel Linwood McMillan

Joel Linwood McMillan, 78, entered into eternal rest Friday, January 21, 2022.  Visitation is scheduled 5-7 pm Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at Barr-Price Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. The funeral service will be held 2 pm Thursday, January 27, 2022 in the Chapel at the funeral home with burial to follow at Lexington Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Red Bank Baptist Church, Northside Baptist Church, Mission Lexington, or a charity of your choice.

Joel, the son of Grace Sease McMillan and Capt. Joel McMillan was born in Columbus, Ga. as America was preparing to enter WWII.  He was raised in Lexington, in the loving support of both the Sease and McMillan families, after his father’s death when he was 3 years old.  He loved living in Lexington, and to his sorrow, moved to West Columbia with his mother and sister. He graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School where he made another group of life time friends from West Columbia.  His senior picture in the school annual had the quote, “Nothing is impossible; call me.”  Joel thought that fit him well and he lived that point of view in all aspects of his life.

Joel married Arlene McDaniel in 1967 and in 1971 they welcomed their son, Ryan Joel in of all places, Columbus, Ga. His mother-in-law teased him about returning upstream to spawn when a job change moved them back to his birthplace 28 years later.   After moving through several career changes and locations, they returned to Lexington where Joel became a self-employed commercial roofing contractor.  He and Arlene worked as a team in their business, The J. L. McMillan Company, for 42 years until his passing. Joel enjoyed the challenges that came with the spray applied urethane foam roof systems that he installed over the years and that are still in service today. He took great pride in providing his customers with the very best roof system available. 

Joel had many interests over the years, but the common attraction in all of them was engines and how fast they could be ridden, driven or flown. He loved NASCAR racing and drivers like the Earnhardt family who drove his beloved Chevrolet cars and trucks.

Joel is survived by his wife, Arlene; sister, Sharon McMillan Rogers; his son, Ryan McMillan; his daughter-in-law, Janice Hutchinson McMillan; his grandchildren, Connor and Abby; and his grand dog and cat, Phoenix and Nola.

Joel was a straight forward man of integrity with a tender heart and a deeply held faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Rest well, in the arms of Jesus, our beloved Husband, Brother, Dad and Grandad.

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