Eugene Jefferson "Jeff" Miller, Iii

Eugene Jefferson Miller III, better known as Jeff, was born to Eugene Jefferson Miller Jr, “Gene”, and Peggy Miller in San Diego, California on August 21, 1943, where his father worked in a Bomber plant during World War II. When Jeff was 2, the family returned to Helena, Arkansas, where he grew up in a wonderful small town community playing in the reservoir hills with a great view over Helena toward the Mississippi River. He graduated from Central High School in 1961, tied for second in a graduating class of 99, playing basketball,

baseball and tennis.

Jeff went to Baylor University where he majored in religion and philosophy, graduating cum laude with a BA.  He then went to Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he received his Master of Divinity, magna cum laude, in 1968, and was then accepted into the Doctor of Theology program at Harvard in New Testament. In 1971 he moved to Galena Park, Texas, where he went to work for a savings and loan while also attending South Texas College of Law at night, receiving his Juris Doctor Degree. Rather than practicing law, he accepted a job at the Slocomb Insurance Agency, soon becoming a partner and president.

Jeff loved Galena Park and invested much of his life into serving the community. From 1978 to 1982 he was a city commissioner. He was a longtime member of and twice president of the Galena Park Rotary Club, for whom he also served as chairman of the Scholarship Committee for more than 25 years. In 1997 he was elected to the Galena Park ISD school board where he served for 25 years, having been board president six times.

Jeff Miller passed away peacefully on October 19, 2023. His life will be celebrated by family and friends on October 27, 2023 at Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, TX. Visitation will be at 1:00 pm, funeral at 2:00 pm, and interment after the service at the Concord Cemetery on Hwy 7 between Centerville and Marquez. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Kay Benge Serafin, his son Jeffery Miller and his wife Charity, daughter Meredith Perryman and her husband Josh, step-son Scott Serafin and wife Amy. In addition he is survived by 8 loving grandchildren, sisters Beverly Patrick, Lori Miller and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents Gene and Peggy and brother Ray.

In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of Jeff Miller can be made to the Galena Park Education Foundation to help establish the Jeff Miller Educational Excellence Grant. Once established, the grant will be given each year.  Donations can be sent to Galena Park ISD Education Foundation, 14705 Woodforest Boulevard, Houston, TX 77015 and online at https://www.galenaparkisd.com/Page/8999, or click the link under Memorial Contributions at the bottom of this obituary page.

Final arrangements are under the direction of Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas.