Maxwell Reynolds Miller, a champion of the arts and a friend to many in Panama City, passed away unexpectedly on August 26, 2021.  He was 72 years old.  Born in Gainesville, FL on May 20, 1949, to Mary Ola Reynolds Miller and C. Edward Miller, Maxwell was a father and a father figure, a sailor, an engineer, an artist, a caregiver, and a helper (and a roofer), who lived a life of adventure and kindness.

Maxwell came to Panama City in 1952 as a toddler and attended Cove School, Jinks Middle School, and Bay High. After serving in the US Navy as a Seabee (SCUBA diver and builder) in Vietnam, he lived in Washington, D.C. where he oversaw the construction of the Federal Triangle.  He returned to Panama City, FL in 1998 to care for his mother, Mary Ola Miller, who founded the first art gallery in town, the Gallery of Art on Beach Drive.

Maxwell – or "Max" as he was known to many – was a man of integrity. He was a local legend in that he was a true Renaissance Man. He had a passion for renovating old homes and was a general contractor and builder, utilizing his engineering mind, strong hands, and creative improvisations on everything from buildings to wood-turning and pottery.  Those who have seen his work know that he, slowly and methodically, strove for excellence. He took the same effort to repair his grandson's snow globe as he did to build a dock, two of which we know are the sturdiest in town after the devastation of Hurricane Michael.

His passions were his daughter and grandson, the arts, the environment, particularly all things maritime, his friends and community, and the many cats he cared for throughout town. Maxwell's friends and family know him as the man who put everyone first but himself, quiet and humble, yet full of laughter.  He explored the world, from diving in Antarctica and most of the Pacific Ocean to adventures in communist China and Cuba.  Those experiences instilled in him a love of learning, an appreciation for humanity, and respect for every person he encountered.  He lived life on his own terms and his singular purpose was to leave the world better than he found it.  After Hurricane Michael, he founded the Cultural Hub of NW Florida, Inc. with the hope of elevating the arts, supporting the artists, and reviving Panama City.  He understood that successful artists are the cornerstone of a resilient and thriving community.

Countless individuals will remember Maxwell as a dear and special friend. He is survived by his daughter, Starlett Miller Massey and his grandson, Maxwell Massey, in St. Petersburg, FL, and his sister, Ola Jane Miller Gow (Bruce E. Gow) in Placerville, California, and his nephews, William Edward Gow, Edward Bruce Gow, Maxwell Reynolds Gow, and their wives and children.

If you knew and loved Maxwell or "Mr. Max," his family welcomes you to pay your respects and participate in the celebration of his life at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1410 Airport Road, Panama City, 32405, on Saturday September 4, 2021, from 11:00 am to 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, his family suggests donations to the Bay County Conservancy, Inc., P.O. Box 1122, Panama City, FL 32402, which sustains the Mary Ola Reynolds Miller Palm Preserve and other green spaces, or ReTree PC at 850-872-3199.