Wallace Edward McMillan

Wallace McMillan, affectionately known as “Gator”, died Thursday November 12, 2015, after battling a long illness. A native Jacksonian, he was born on October 28, 1945, into the loving home of the late Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lamar McMillan, Sr., and was preceded in death by his wife Marie Lipscomb McMillan. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years Sarah, their two sons Hayes and Reid (Elizabeth); three grandsons Watson, Wallace, and Charles; his beloved brother Howard McMillan Jr. (Mary Eliza); niece Eliza Garraway (Rick); nephew Howard McMillan III (Gina); and great nieces and nephews Katie Love Garraway, Mary Hasting Garraway, West Garraway, Eliza Maria McMillan, and Howard McMillan, IV.

Wallace was a gentle giant with an outgoing and entertaining personality. Because of his loving nature, keen wit, and his unwavering sense of loyalty, he made numerous friends from all walks of life. He never met a stranger and had an uncanny ability to fill any room with smiles and laughter with his animated story telling. Those who benefitted the most from these traits were his family, his wide circle of friends, and his grandchildren who lovingly called him Gator.

Wallace was a lifelong Duling Bear, Bailey Beaver, and a Murrah Mustang. At Murrah, he played football under legendary Hall of Fame Coach Jack Carlisle, and maintained a lifelong friendship with him and many of his teammate who lunched monthly.

He graduated with a B.B.A. in Banking and Finance from Ole Miss where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He also was a graduate of the Bank Marketing School of the University of Colorado at Boulder. He began his banking career with First National Bank in Jackson, then moved to Tupelo to join The Peoples Bank and Trust, and finished his career as Marketing Director and Senior Vice President of Deposit Guaranty National Bank. This position allowed him to promote business, art, and cultural events, throughout the southeast, and he served many years as planner of the annual DGNB PGA Golf Classic. For 27 years Wallace taught Bank Marketing at the Mississippi School of Banking at Ole Miss earning him the Distinguished Faculty Award.

Mr. McMillan proudly served on numerous boards such as The Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation in Tupelo, The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, The Committee to Finish the Natchez Trace, Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America, The Mississippi Food Network, Phi Delta Theta, Metropolitan YMCA and served as President of DREAM, of the Jackson Preparatory School, and of the Jackson Preparatory School Foundation.

Wallace was an avid reader and student of history, especially Mississippi History and the Civil War. Wallace also loved music of the 50’s and 60’s. His music collections were extensive and he entertained his like-minded friends with his immense knowledge of music history of that era.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in honor of Wallace to Northminster Baptist Church or Jackson Preparatory School.