Robert Cochrane McMillan, age 67, of Grayton Beach, Florida, his home for the last four years, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 7, 2018.  He was born on May 11, 1950, as the youngest of five children to Thomas Edward McMillan and Elvira Minge Cochrane McMillan of Brewton, Alabama.  He attended T.R. Miller High School where he played many sports for the Tigers.  After graduation in 1968, he attended Marion Military Institute and the University of Alabama where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.  After a trip to Europe, Bob returned to his home of Brewton, Alabama where he met the love of his life, Candy McDowell, and they married on March 1, 1975.

Bob was a General Partner of McMillan, Ltd. of Brewton, a family partnership owned by his siblings Ed Leigh McMillan II, Elvira M. Mannelly, Katherine M. Owens and Thomas E. McMillan, Jr. as well as a member of the Neal Land & Timber board of directors of Blountstown, Florida.  For a number of years, Bob was involved in the revitalization of downtown Brewton, serving as Chairman of the Downtown Revitalization Steering Committee.  He rehabilitated two historic structures now known as The Ritz and The L House.  His efforts resulted in the creation of the boardwalk that was planned by Auburn University and the listing of downtown Brewton on the National Register.  Bob was later named Citizen of The Year by the Brewton Chamber of Commerce in 1984.

Bob gave of his time, talent and resources to his community and state.  He supported the arts in Brewton through the Brewton Arts Council and took part in many plays.  We are told to make a joyful noise to the Lord and Bob did so in such plays as Fiddler on the Roof and Wizard of Oz.  He and Candy were the perfect hosts at their home on Belleville Avenue and helped to promote community activities.  He was always called on to give the blessing at family gatherings where he would quote scripture and literature.  Bob was the perfect Santa Claus on many occasions for family and community, a role he loved and fulfilled to the delight of all.  He was a natural sportsman from childhood and enjoyed many a round of golf with his friends in various places in Europe, Canada and the South.  Bob loved his extended family.  He had many fond childhood memories of his cousins, the Cochrane family, in Tuscaloosa and later while attending the University of Alabama.  He was always very close to Candy’s family, the McDowell’s, and made them an integral part of his life.

In 1972, Bob became active in Republican politics and worked on the Winton “Red” Blount campaign for the U.S. Senate.  Because of his involvement, he became a supporter of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and served on the Board of Directors from 1996 to 2017.  Bob was the founder of The Community Character Project of Escambia County, Alabama, a non-profit dedicated to developing and enhancing an atmosphere of moral and civic virtue.  Bob served his beloved Episcopal Church in many ways on the Vestry and as Senior Warden.  He also served the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast in many ways and as a Lay Delegate to the National Episcopal Church conventions.

He is survived by his wife, Candy McDowell McMillan; sons Robert Cochrane McMillan, Jr. of Oakland, California and Collin Malcolm McMillan and wife, Coley of Grayton Beach, Florida, daughter Brett McMillan Kirkendall and husband, Kevin of Mobile, Alabama; six grandchildren Coley Krieg, Blaze Kirkendall, Preston Kirkendall, Brewer Kirkendall, Sarah Grace Kirkendall and Domino Rose McMillan.  Sisters Elvira M. Mannelly and husband, Jay of Atlanta, Georgia, Kate M. Owens and husband, Paul of Destin, Florida, and brother Thomas E. McMillan, Jr. and wife, Jane of Brewton, Alabama.  He is predeceased by his brother Ed Leigh McMillan II of Brewton, Alabama.

Visitation will be held Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Brewton, Alabama.  Funeral Services are scheduled for Monday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church with graveside following at Union Cemetery in Brewton.  Following the burial, there will be a Celebration of Life at Dan and Kathy McMillan’s home at 105 McLellan Street in Brewton, Alabama.

 

I Corinthians 13 best describes Bob.  He did so much for so many but his focus was really on the very last verse, verse 13:  “Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – but the greatest of these is love”.  That was Bob, and he is at home now, living for eternity in happiness and health, with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Memorial donations may be made to the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast for Clergy Development:

Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast

PO. Box 13330

Pensacola, FL  32591

Williams Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements