Billy Jay Mills

Mills was a native of Killeen, spending his entire childhood there where he attended Killeen ISD schools and graduated from Killeen High School in 1971. He enrolled at Blinn Junior College on a football scholarship but left to join the Texas National Guard after being drafted. After completing Basic and Advanced training at Fort Polk and Airborne training at Fort Benning, Mills returned to Blinn Junior College to complete his Associate of Arts degree. He was Honorably Discharged from the Guard in 1977.

After completing his degree at Blinn Junior College, Mills enrolled at Baylor University as a student football coach. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Business degree he was hired by Coach Grant Teaff as an assistant coach. Before leaving Baylor, he was the defensive coordinator and Teaff called him “…an unbelievable recruiter and one of the best football minds I have ever been around.”

While at Baylor, Mills met and married Carol Dian Smalley of Gatesville. Their first son, Jay Courtney, was born immediately after Baylor defeated Arkansas to win the Southwest Conference title in 1980. Teaff and the team captains presented Carol with the game ball at the hospital that night.

In 1983 Mills returned to Killeen to join the family business, Modern TV & Appliance. It didn’t take long for him to become an active member in the community. His service includes many years working to support the Killeen Chamber of Commerce; the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) as governor and local and state president; as a Director of the Central Texas Home Builders Association; President of the Apartment Association; a KISD school board member; a board member of the Killeen Boys Club; on the advisory board of Texas A&M Central Texas College; and member of the Killeen Heights Rotary Club.

During his tenure, Modern TV & Appliance was voted the “Best Small Business” by the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce numerous times and was most recently honored as such in 2001. In 2017, while working alongside his son Cullen, the business was reorganized into Modern Appliance and continues to play a vital role in the community today.

Todd Fox, Board Chair of the Killeen Chamber of Commerce, said “[Mills’] impact extended far beyond the Chamber, and his years of service to the Greater Killeen community will be remembered.”

The Killeen Independent School District issued a statement. “For generations past and to come, his family has kept our students a focus, and we are grateful for the profound difference Mr. Mills made in our community.”

Billy Mills was baptized at the age of 10 at First Baptist Church Killeen. He remained a faithful member there until he and Carol moved to Belton in 2006, where they moved their membership to First Baptist Church Belton.

Being a grandfather was one of his greatest joys. He proudly supported his grandchildren in everything they did. Billy leaves Noah and Avery a legacy of faithful encouragement and a beautiful example of how to love others.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents TJ and Lawanna Mills. He is survived by Carol, his loving wife of 49 years; son Jay Courtney and his wife Natalie of West Barnstable, Massachusetts; his son Cullen and wife Erin of Belton; grandchildren Noah and Avery; sister Gwendolyn and husband C.W. “Buck” Stewart; sister Susan and husband Clint Bond; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen from 5PM-7PM. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Monday, October 5 at 2PM at First Baptist Church Belton.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made directly to the local chapter of AUSA towards a scholarship recently made in his honor.