By Gabrielle Pack

Close family, friends, and surrounding church congregations encountered similar special moments with Dr. L.C. McMillian, and expressed how his mere presence changed their lives spiritually and naturally.

More than 1,000 of McMillian’s loved ones came together Saturday morning at Troy University’s Sartain Hall during his home going celebration.

Tears of joy and sadness filled the room as many started to reminisce about what McMillian meant to them.

Deacon Charles Terry knew McMillian as a young child. Terry said his then pastor was on vacation one Sunday and McMillian was asked to fill in.

“At that moment, I told the members he would be our next pastor,” said Terry. Five years later, McMillian would begin pastoring that very church.

“He was my pastor for 10 years, and a great man of God,” said Alfred Scott, choir member of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

Scott said he was a pastor who helped him to understand how to become humble and create a relationship to be closer with God.

Deacon James Boswell was a longtime friend of McMillian before he started his ministry at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Boswell said McMillian was a fine man and a warrior in Christ.

Rosalind Pollard was also a member of the same church. She said his walk and talk always went hand and hand.

“What he preached, he lived,” Pollard said. “He was loving, caring, and a spiritual uplift to my family and me.”

Pollard also said that he kept her quite active in their local church. She was in charge of several church programs, and Vacation Bible School.

Not only did church members and the community want to pay their respects, but many city officials and state representatives agreed McMillian’s walk with Christ made him a unique man of God.

Former State Rep. Steve Flowers eased the crowd in laughter as he told stories of McMillian’s love for fishing during the weekends.

“He was a faithful servant before people even knew what that meant,” said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves.

Melvin Owens, president of the Northeast District Convention said McMillian was the epitome of a Christian man. He loved God, his family, and a mentor to many preachers.

“He was a supporter of humanity, and a giver in any situation,” Owens said.