James “Jim” McMillan, 75, a cherished member of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society (DCHS) and a passionate historian of the Stone-Campbell Movement, passed away after a six-month illness. Jim was placed in hospice care in August due to Vascular Dementia. He passed away peacefully on September 22,2024.

His wife, Barbara (Guillory) McMillan, shared this message:  “James L. McMillan quietly went to sleep, and we will forever be blessed by the legacy he left behind.”

Jim’s dedication to preserving history, particularly that of the Stone-Campbell tradition, had a lasting impact. As a former member of the Board of Trustees and later as the Digital Archivist at DCHS, Jim played a crucial role in developing the Society’s digitization program, ensuring that historical documents and records would be preserved for future generations. He also helped revive the Journal of Discipliana, the Historical Society’s scholarly journal, which continues to be a key resource for researchers and historians.

Beyond his work at DCHS, Jim served in a variety of roles throughout his career. He was Senior Minister at Payson Road Christian Church and Craig Christian Church, a senior technical engineer, network administrator at the University of Illinois, and Academic Dean and Professor at Mid-South Christian College. Jim also taught Greek and English at Ozark Christian College in 1973-1974 and coached the college golf team.

Jim was the son of Lloyd and Mary Lou McMillan. Lloyd was a 1949 Ozark graduate and a long-time preacher in Montrose, Colorado. Jim and Barbara lived in Chatham, Illinois. He leaves behind a legacy of dedicated service, scholarship, and historical preservation.

Joel Brown, President of DCHS in reflecting on his legacy shared, “Jim was as passionate about the history of the Stone-Campbell Movement as anyone I’ve ever met, and he shared his passion and vast knowledge of its history with the Historical Society. Jim’s contributions to helping build our digitization program cannot be understated, and the impact of his work in helping to digitize our sacred history will be felt for generations to come. Jim was a Lifetime Member of the Historical Society, and we are so grateful for his life, ministry, and friendship.”

A Celebration of Life Service is pending. Please keep Barbara, the family, and friends in your thoughts during this time of loss.