Millard Staley

Millard Staley was born on November 7, 1932 to the parents of Herman Staley, Sr. and Geneva Thomas Staley.

He attended Marion County Public Schools and graduated from Howard Academy, Class of 1952.  After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and completed 20 years of honorable service. His military service includes two deployments to Vietnam from February 1967 to February 1968 and May 1970 to May 1971.  His commendations included the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and four Good Conduct Medals.

Upon retirement in May 1973, he came back home “to where the heart is” and resided here in Ocala for the remainder of his life. He later accepted Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior and was joined in holy matrimony to Doretha Sellers.  They both attended the House of God Church until their health began to fail.  

 
He enjoyed watching and listening to the ministries of Charles Stanley, Joyce Meyer, David Jeremiah and other Christian TV and Radio Programming.  Every room in his house is filled with their books, tapes and other written publications. Out of gratitude for how Jesus radically changed and renewed his life, he was a generous giver to these ministries and various charitable organizations that are too numerous to list.  He also enjoyed watching sports, listening to music, reading the newspaper and talking with family and friends.

He transitioned from his earthly journey to the presence of the Lord on Sunday, October 22, 2023.   He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Doretha Sellers Staley; three brothers, Herman Staley, Sr., Willard Staley and Asbury Staley; three brothers-in-law, Robert Lee Rice, James Turner and Phillip Washington, Sr.; a niece, Wanda Staley; two nephews, Maurice Jerome Willis, Kenneth Washington; and many members of his very large extended family in South Carolina and beyond.

Millard leaves to cherish his memory and continue his legacy:  His daughter, Linda Louise Hendree of Columbus Ohio; one brother, Albert Staley (Deborah) of Dalzell South Carolina; five sisters, Mary Staley Willis (Marion) of Jacksonville Florida, Emily Staley Turner of Bloomfield, Connecticut, Elvira Staley Washington, Mary Staley Rice, both of Ocala, Florida, and Dr. Arlinda Staley-Amos of Valrico, Florida; extended family, nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends.  

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