Col. Sidney R. “Sid” Miles, former state public safety commissioner with connections to Douglas, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 73.
Col. Miles was a dedicated public servant and beloved family man passed away on July 14, 2024, at the Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick, after a long battle with multiple myeloma. He was reared in Reidsville, graduating from the Reidsville High School in 1969. After graduation, he attended then-South Georgia College in Douglas, and Reinhardt University, where he received a degree in Criminal Justice.
In 1969, he joined the Georgia State Patrol, and he started his career with the department as a radio operator at Post 36 Douglas. In 1974, he graduated from the 44th Trooper School. His career with the Georgia State Patrol spanned several decades, where he served in the Executive Protection Unit protecting Governors Carter, Busbee, Harris, and Miller. In 1993, Governor Zell Miller appointed him to the rank of Colonel and the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. During this time as Colonel, he was appointed Director of International Security for the 1996 Summer Olympics. He continued his career in command of the Georgia State Patrol, serving in this capacity until 1999, where he retired with 30 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia. After his retirement, he enjoyed playing golf, hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Sidney B. and Emilee Coleman Miles; sister Kay Miles Garrison; and a sister-in-law Teresa Durden McKinley. He is a member of Rome Primitive Baptist Church and had been attending Marvin Church in Lyons.
Sid is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Lana Durden Miles of Shellman Bluff; his children Natalee Miles of Shellman Bluff and Mathew Miles of Athens; sister Judy Davis of Shellman Bluff; brother-in-law Mike McKinley of Lyons; several nieces and nephews.
Services to honor and remember Sid’s life will take place at Low Country Cremation & Burial in Reidsville on Thursday July 18, 2024. Visitation begins at 5:00 pm. A graveside service will be held at Marvin Church Cemetery in Lyons on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 11 am. Reverends Bill Lee and Michael Kennedy; Georgia State Patrol Colonel Billy Hitchens; and Georgia State Patrol Retired Colonel Chris Wright will officiate.
Pallbearers will be the Georgia State Patrol Honor Guard.
The family would like to thank the following for their love and compassion through the years: Oncology nurse and special friend Shelly Erdmier, Dr. Duane Moores and staff, and Hospice of the Golden Isles.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Home, Attention Development Division, 1000 Sheriffs’ Way, Madison, Georgia 30650.
Low Country Cremation & Burial is in charge of the arrangements.