Joseph C. Miller II

Joseph (Joe) C. Miller II, 93, of Crescent Beach, Florida, passed away on November 15, 2022, in a beautiful, peaceful moment, surrounded by family and friends, at Flagler Hospital, in St. Augustine, Florida, after a long, joy-filled life and brief illness.

Joe was born on August 24, 1929, in Haines City, Florida, to Earl M. and Margaret M. Miller, the second of three sons, Douglas M.Miller (deceased), and Earl (Buddy) M. Mille Jr. (deceased). After graduation from Trenton High School, Trenton, Florida, Joe went to both Florida State University and University of Florida. As an undergrad he studied Business and went on to the University of Florida, College of Law for his Juris Doctorate, interrupted by joining the U.S. Air Force in 1952, where he flew the United States’ first jet fighter and first high-altitude aircraft, flying reconnaissance missions over Russia.

Joe practiced law in Palatka, Florida, briefly as a prosecutor, followed by civil/criminal litigation. He was the attorney for the Board of Directors for Briarwood School and for St. Johns River State College. He was also the attorney for the Miller family handling the many legal entanglements created by large landowners.

Joe and his wife of 43 years, Judith G. Shine, also an attorney, were married in St. Barts, in 1979, and practiced together in St. Augustine as Miller, Shine & Bryan, until their retirement in 2019. Joe was one of the first attorneys in St. Johns County to earn a Florida Bar Certification in the area of trial practice. Judi and Joe travelled the world extensively, never spending a night apart. Joe was known for his great storytelling, love of history and quick wit. Every woman was “dahlin” and every man “hoss.” A humble force of nature and true southern gentleman who was an enigma being both a lifelong conservative and feminist. Kind, considerate, intelligent,generous, handsome, young at heart (and deed), brave, patriotic, supportive, thoughtful and absolutely, “the best husband a woman could ask for.”

He is preceded in death by basically everyone, as he recently stated, “All my enemies are gone.”

And the many that were not (enemies) were there to “welcome” him, along with his son, Joseph C. Miller III (Tiger, deceased).

Those left to miss him forever are the wealth of friends, his devoted wife, Judith G. Shine; daughter, Victoria E. Miller and husband, Glen R. Horne of Destin, Florida; daughter, Melissa M. Griffin and fiancé, Eric Nelson of Atlanta, Georgia and Panama City, Florida; and his three grandchildren, Shelby E. Bryant of Gilbert, Arizona, Sean M. Griffin, Lima, Ohio and Patrick J. Griffin, of Panama City, Florida.

A memorial service will be held at Craig Funeral Home, 1475 Old Dixie Highway, St. Augustine, Florida, on December 3, 2022, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation at t2t.org.

Craig Funeral Home of St. Augustine assisted the family.