Olan C. Miller

Olan Carl Miller passed away on August 12, 2025, at the age of 72, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Born on March 13, 1953 in Belwood, North Carolina, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who was committed to his Christian faith and service to others.

He held a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and enjoyed a successful thirty-year career as a salesman at Phil Hughes Honda. From 1984-1985, he owned and ran a produce store, The Farmer’s Choice, after working at UPS from 1976 – 1984. He had a reputation for deep integrity and treating his customers fairly, with a healthy dose of humor and charm.

On June 25, 1977, Olan married the love of his life, Nancy Drinkard Miller, who he met while an employee of Lowe’s Building Supply in Athens. He proudly sold her on the virtues of a Craftsman Workmate Workbench for his future father-in-law and on his virtues as well, concluding the sale by asking for her phone number. They built a beautiful life together for 48 years, raising three children: Elizabeth Miller (David) Smith of Watkinsville, and James (Lyndie) Miller, of Athens, and Paul (Joey Riddle) Miller of Boston, Massachusetts. Olan’s love extended to his grandchildren, Sadie Miller, Harper Miller, and Walker Smith, who brought him immense joy and pride, through their many accomplishments and activities, fun times on the boat at Lake Thurmond, and meals around his kitchen table.

He was a member of Prince Avenue Baptist Church for nearly fifty years and was deeply dedicated to supporting and praying for his church and church family. He served as a deacon, a rocker of babies in the nursery with Nancy, and a cook for many church events. His dedication to helping others was evident through his volunteer work with the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief, where he and Nancy spent their retirement years making meals for volunteers responding to natural disasters, and the Athens Pregnancy Center, where he was a board member. Before and after retirement, he had a passion for growing vegetables in his garden, finding a great deal on a box of produce, and cooking for family and friends on the grill, griddle, and smoker.

Olan was born to Carl James Miller and Martha Catherine Falls Miller, and he is survived by his siblings: Carolyn (Bob) Ely of Winston-Salem, NC, Rachel (Jack) Howell of Kings Mountain, NC, and Roger (Helen) Miller of Lexington, SC, along with sister-in-law Gay Miller of Nebo, NC. Olan was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Marion Miller, and leaves behind many nieces and nephews who will remember him fondly.

A visitation will be held on August 15, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes, located at 1211 Jimmy Daniel Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677. A Celebration of Life service will take place on August 16, 2025, starting at 10:00 AM at Prince Avenue Baptist Church, 3691 Monroe Highway, Bogart, GA 30622.

Olan will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. His family welcomes you to share a memory or story about him in the guestbook below. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Olan’s memory to Prince Avenue Baptist Church’s General Fund to benefit the Preschool and Children's Ministry or the Stone Mountain Baptist Association, Unit 11F, PO Box 911, Conyers, GA, 30012 to benefit Georgia Baptist disaster relief efforts.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstepens.com