Remembering family and friends

A roundup of notices and services. Look for additional obituaries on this newspaper’s website.

Hilo, Hawaii-James (Jimmy) Lewis Miller, 82, born in Greenville, South Carolina, made a peaceful departure from this life on Monday, July 27, 2020 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, Hawaii. James moved at a young age with family from Greenville, South Carolina to Saratoga Springs, New York. It is a town he truly loved. He grew up a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Peter’s church in Saratoga Springs and served as an altar boy. James attended St. Peter’s Academy and High School. He was athletic and did letter in sports. He graduated from St Peter’s High. In 1955 James joined the US Air Force as an Avionics Electronics Technician. While in the Air Force, he obtained an Associate Degree in Avionic Electronics from USAF Air University, where he completed various technical avionic and electrical maintenance and repair courses. He also exceled in management and leadership courses under Air Force supervisors. Through his service, James was stationed at air bases around the world, including Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam. He married Gloria Dorsey and they had two children Craig and Carol. After leaving the Air Force, James managed real estate in Saratoga Springs for eight years. He then made the transition to Syracuse, New York, where he started a second career as a community representative of veterans’ affairs. As a disabled Vietnam veteran himself, James worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans from all walks of life. From the 1980s through the 2000s, James served as a member and leader on various impactful, highly respected committees and boards, including: Member of Congressional Veterans Advisory Committee under Congressman James Walsh; Member of the Onondaga County Veterans Advisory Board; Member of the Selective Service System of the Local Board #59, Syracuse, NY; Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Central NY Chapter 103, Syracuse, NY; Chairman of the Community Service Committee, Vietnam Veterans, Chapter 103; Trustee of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program of Central NY (Scholarship Committee), Brown Memorial UMC, Syracuse, NY; Executive Producer of “Veterans Issues Program” on Access Channel 7, Cablevision, Syracuse ,NY. Throughout his career and community service, James was a proud, spirited member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the VFW. It was through these avenues that James made remarkable contributions to multiple segments of the greater Syracuse community. In 1990, James was presented The Community Service Award by the NAACP for developing a Catholic charity program in which Vietnam veterans tutor Asian immigrants in the English language. The prestigious award also recognized his distinguished leadership role in organizing and overseeing Vietnam veteran-led programs to collect and distribute donations to community food cupboards and perform housing repairs for disabled senior citizens. James was known by the many people he crossed paths with as Jim or Jimmy. He enjoyed the company of family, other veterans, and friends, and always looked forward to discussing politics, military, and history. Throughout all of his days, he loved to read and travel. As such, James elected to spend his nal years in Hilo, Hawaii, which he enjoyed immensely. James was predeceased by his father and mother Washington and Ruby and his daughter Carol Tolliver Barnes. He is survived by his son Craig Miller, his former spouse Gloria Miller, grandchildren Clarence Tolliver III (Mao), Tamika and James Tolliver, his great grandson Dequan Fields, and his nephews Paul and Stewart White. The family would like to acknowledge the staff of the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, Hawaii for their compassionate care of James. A memorial service is being planned for the Saratoga Memorial Cemetery. Once the date and time are nalized, an announcement will be made in the newspaper and online at https://www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com/obituary-listing. The family can be reached directly at jameslmillerservice @ gmail.com.