Willie Terrance Miller, Jr, age 60, passed away in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday, March 29, 2024. “Little Willie,” as he was affectionately called by his family, grew up in a loving home in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his father Willie Terrance Miller, Sr. and his mother Jeannie J. Miller. Willie attended Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools and graduated from West Charlotte High School in 1981. Willie was always an adventurer, full of curiosity, which led him to his career in long-haul trucking. Willie loved working in the field of trucking and ended his career working for DC Foundations in Knoxville, Tennessee. Though within their employ for a short time, Willie made many strong and lasting friendships with a company that treated him like family. He was able to advance during his time there and was proud of his accomplishments. For that, our family would like to sincerely thank everyone at DC Foundations. Willie enjoyed cars and especially loved being behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler. This was his career of choice, and he spent the majority of his adult life on the open road traversing the highways and byways of the United States for many, many years before settling down in Knoxville, Tennessee where he lived until his death. DeAndre Mincey, his cherished son, was his entire world. By all accounts, his relationship with DeAndre gave him strength during the rough times and laughter and joy all of the time. He was very proud of his son and enjoyed spending his down time with him, relaxing, watching tv together and giving him guidance and support. “Little Willie” loved his family and would make a point to tell them that he loved and appreciated them as often as possible, sometimes with a hug but most frequently with a text and a nickname.
Willie is survived by his beloved mother, Jeannie M. Miller; his paternal sister Sharon Beard; his stepmother Lois Miller; maternal aunts, Evelyn E. Grayson and Michelle Grayson, and his uncle Lewis Spencer Grayson, all of Beaufort, SC. He leaves to cherish his memory, his son DeAndre Mincey of Knoxville, TN. He leaves behind his nephews, Damien Miller, DeOnte Johnson, and Devon Johnson of Charlotte, NC; his nephew William Beard, his nieces Lakeshia Beard and Shanae Beard of Beaufort, SC; along with a host of other aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends, and his partner Lora McCurry of Knoxville, TN. Willie had a knack for making friends easily and making all friends feel like his best friend.
Willie is preceded in death by his father, Willie Terrance Miller, Sr. and his dear sisters Stephanie Johnson and Constance Miller.
