Dr. Jesse William Mills, age 69, of Columbus, went to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday, Feb. 5, while being cared for at Wake Forest University Medical Center.

A native of Rutherford County and a lifelong resident of Polk County, Jesse was the son of the late Glenn William and Willie Mae Calhoun Mills. Jesse was a Baptist Minister currently pastoring at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, and had previously pastored churches in North and South Carolina. He was very active on the mission field, preaching in more than 19 countries and on five continents. He was the retired owner of Mills and Son Construction Company.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Lora Mills Morgan and husband, Barry, and Matthew Mills and wife, Donna Lane Mills; grandchildren, Cole Morgan, Jonathan Mills, Alea Morgan, Michael Mills and Brittany Mills; sisters, Glynes Wilson and husband, Gene, and Shirley Turner and husband, Eugene. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Padgett, and brothers, Thadeus (Jake) Mills and Joe Mills.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, 221 Sulphur Springs Church Road, Forest City, N.C. 28043 with Revs. Robert Harris and Gene Self Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 5-8 p.m. Friday, February 8 at Crowe’s Mortuary in Rutherfordton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 4530 Park Road, Suite 240, Charlotte, N.C. 28209 or Sulphur Springs Baptist Church Mission Fund.

Online condolences at www.crowemortuary.com