Broadcasters who worked with Bill Miller were honorary pallbearers at his funeral at Delano, Tn.
Family and friends packed the Delano, Tn. Baptist Church Saturday to remember East Tennessee broadcaster Bill Miller, who passed away July 2.
Miller spent over 50 years in broadcasting starting at WCPH in Etowah, Tn. when he was 18 years old.
Miller’s good friend, TV News Anchor David Carroll, delivered reflections of Miller. Carroll said when he was only 13, he’d call WFLI Radio and Miller would be so friendly and never in a hurry.
Carroll said, “I’d tell him about my dreams of being on the air someday and he’d listen. He played my song requests.”
The journalist described Miller as a very positive person even after he was diagnosed with cancer. Carroll said, “When you ask how he was doing he’d respond, 'I’m having a good day. Bill was the life of the party and had the stories to prove it. He never said a bad word about anybody.' ”
Carroll, a staunch Alabama fan, said he stopped by the Hamilton Place Mall and bought an Orange necktie to honor Miller, an avid Big Orange Fan. Miller was proud when his University of Tennessee baseball team won the 2024 national championship.
Special music included some of Miller’s favorite songs, “Suddenly There’s a Valley,” His Eye is on the Sparrow” by Lynne Herron and the congregation singing, “How Great Thou Art.”
Miller was a native of Delano, graduating from Polk County High School. In addition to WCPH, he worked for WFLI in Chattanooga, WOKI in Oak Ridge and WIVK in Knoxville, as well as several other radio stations around the country. Because of Miller’s moving around he was nicknamed “Suitcase Simpson.”
Bill also had a gift for writing and was featured in the “Breakfast with Bill” column in the Polk County News.
He announced the Polk County Wildcats’ football and basketball games.
Pastor David Tullock said it was an honor for him to help in the celebration of Bill Miller’s life. The pastor said Miller was very proud of his roots and carried Polk County and the Delano community everywhere he went.
Pastor Tullock said, “Miller had a small ego and but a big heart. He loved his family to the bottom of his feet and always had good and kind words to say about his 93-year-old mother.”
Pastor Tullock said Miller had written over 500 songs. The minister read the words to a composition that Miller penned several years ago, “I still know the words to Amazing Grace.”
The minister said, “It was God’s Amazing Grace that rescued Miller and captured his true relationship to the Savior."
Area broadcasters who worked with Miller sat together during the service and served as honorary pallbearers. Interment for the 74-year-old broadcaster was held in the Delano Cemetery with his nieces and nephews serving as pallbearers.
Broadcasters attending from left to right, Nick Smith, Ben Cagle, Johnny Eagle, Jim Copeland, David Carroll, Rick Govan, Gene Lovin and Earl Freudenberg