Miller Williams Shealy, Sr.

Born in Columbia, SC, Miller was a son of the late Lawrence Eusebius Shealy and Mary Esther Williams Shealy. He had an older sister, Sadie, and an older brother, Buddy. They grew up on River Drive and attended Reformation Lutheran Church where their parents where founding members.

Miller graduated from Columbia High School in 1946. After a Legion baseball career in high school, he played in the minor leagues for the Bristol Twins, Hickory Rebels, Jacksonville Tars, and the Knoxville Smokies. You can check out his stats at:

baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=shealy001mil.

In 1948 he was under contract with the New York Giants to play Class A ball. He was a pitcher.

His baseball career was interrupted by the Korean War. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and trained at Parris Island. Via Kyoto Japan, he arrived in Korea sometime in the fall of 1950. He was a sergeant. His job was to be a forward observer positioned close to the front lines to observe enemy positions and call in artillery strikes. Dated photographs show him stationed on “The Hook” as of September 1950. The Hook was a ridge that controlled access to the capital of South Korea, Seoul. Because of its vital defensive position, it was the subject of constant fighting during the war. Less than a month after the photo was taken, the Chinese enter the war. While under enemy fire, Miller felt something running down his leg. Looking down, thinking he had been shot, he found that his water bottle had taken a bullet for him.

By the spring of 1953, Miller was home from Korea living a civilian life. He petitioned the National Profession Baseball Players Association for reinstatement. Later in 1953 he was playing in Danville, Virginia, under contract with the New York Giants. By late 1954 at the urging of his parents he ended his baseball career and took a job with a major railroad company.

In Columbia, while attending Reformation Lutheran Church, he met Barbara Jean Myers. She and her family were members of Reformation Lutheran Church also. She was six years his junior. While driving home from church one Sunday, in the only new car he ever owned, he saw Barbara walking home. Hoping to impress her, he slowed as he approached. He called out to ask if she wanted a ride home. Curiously, she flatly rejected his offer. Nevertheless, Miller continued to pursue her. On November 27, 1954, in that same new car, the happy couple drove away from Reformation Lutheran church after their wedding reception.

Against the advice of his father, Miller purchased some land in the then new suburb of St. Andrew’s about a mile from where the Dutch Square shopping mall is today. Miller built a house on the land he purchased. Barbara and Miller moved into the house on Arrowwood Road and lived there while raising a family for the next 23 years.

In 1957, Miller received his private pilot’s license. As the 50s rolled into the 60s, Miller operated three Esso service stations: Broad River at I-20 (Kent’s Corner now), the intersection of River Drive and Sunset Drive, and the corner of Assembly and College Streets downtown. This was a busy time, as Miller and Barbara were operating three businesses and raising a family. In addition, during this time Miller would often pilot a small plane taking Barbara and two other couples to Mrytle Beach for dinner.

Miller Jr. was born in 1959. This was also the year that Miller and Barbara moved their membership from Reformation to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. Trent was born in 1962. By this time, Miller was only operating the Esso station at Broad River and I-20. With the responsibility of two children, risky things like flying around in small planes slowly came to an end.

At St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Miller served in various leadership positions and many terms on Church Council. He also taught Sunday school. He served on the building committee as the old church was replaced with the current building in 1976. Most significant to Miller was his work with the St. Andrew’s Lutheran Men in Mission. He served as the President of the St. Andrew’s Chapter and later as the Chairman of the State Lutheran Men’s Load Fund. He was a member of the Lutheran Men’s Committee of 100 for many years. Miller was very proud to be a part of the Lutheran Men’s mission to provide interest free loads to mission congregations in South Carolina.

In 1977, after all those years on Arrowwood Road, Miller and his family moved to Irmo. Several years after moving to Irmo, Miller left the service station at Broad River Road and opened a One Stop Shoppe convenience store and gas station in Irmo. At the young age of 69, Miller left the Irmo store and spent the next 16 years with Dunbar Funeral Home.

Surviving are his sons, Miller W. Shealy, Jr. (Jennifer) and Keenan Trent Shealy (Joyce); grandchildren, Miller Williams Shealy III, Chandler Kneece Shealy, Ella Caroline Shealy and Mary Keenan Shealy.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Sadie Shealy Weber and his brother L.E. (Buddy) Shealy Jr.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at Laurel Crest Retirement Community and Amedisys Hospice.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2025, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, with visitation one hour prior in the church parlor. Burial will be held at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Honorary Pallbearers will be the members of the St. Andrew’s chapter of Lutheran Men. Serving as active pallbearers will be Miller Williams Shealy III, Chandler Kneece Shealy, Jeffery Patrick Daniel, Keith Owens Daniel, Charles Edwin Weber, David Michael Shealy, David Fulmer Sims and Pedro Robles.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com