Community mourns passing of ‘Mr. Luchus’

Mr. Luchus McMillian, 80, a much-beloved employee of the Cook County School System for nearly five decades, passed away on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

“Our prayers are with Mr. Luchus’ family during this time,” said Cook County school officials. “We will forever miss this gentle man.”

Community members remembered Mr. McMillian as “a sweet man who was loved by everyone and who was a friend to all.” 

Mr. McMillian, a custodian at Cook Primary School, was among the longest serving employees who ever worked for Cook County Schools.

In January 2019, Mr. McMillian received the “Golden Daylily Award” as the Cook County School System’s Non-Certified Employee of the Month.

Mr. McMillian started with Adel Elementary School in 1975 and worked there until the consolidation into Cook Elementary School in 1995. He then worked at Cook Elementary until 2004, when the facility split off into Cook Primary School. Cook Primary was his last place of employment in the school system.

Mr. McMillian also drove a school bus from 1975 to 1997.

Frank Carter, School Board Chairman at the time of the Golden Daylily presentation, recalled that Mr. McMillian was a school bus substitute driver when Carter attended Cook Middle School.

Leslie Folsom, then-Cook Primary Principal, said Mr. McMillian was always the first employee at Cook Primary in the mornings and cut the lights on.

During the 2021 “Back to School Hornet Celebration,” Mr. McMillian played the piano and sang gospel music for the gathering. He was an icon for everyone who attended or taught at Adel Elementary School or Cook Primary School for the past 46 years. “We were so honored to have him share his God-given talents in July 2021,” according to school officials.

During the Sept. 13, 2021, Board of Education meeting, Maintenance Director Larry Young and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tim Dixon recognized the Cook Primary School Custodial Staff, including Mr. McMillian.

The school officials thanked the CPS custodians for their dedication to cleanup after the HVAC project at the school. Their hard work allowed school to start on time for the new school year. 

Mr. McMillian was born on March 8, 1942.

Visitation will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at Lane Memorial Chapel, 115 N. MLK Jr. Drive, Adel, Ga., 31620.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Cook Middle School.