Bill Mills Jr., founder of The William Mills Agency and one of the School of Communication’s Distinguished Alumni, died Thursday, March 15, at the age of 78.

Mr. Mills worked more than 50 years in advertising, marketing and management in the financial services industry. Before founding the agency that bears his name in Atlanta in 1977, he was vice president of marketing at the John H. Harland Company. He has served as director of advertising for Equifax and as advertising manager for Citizens & Southern National Bank. Bill earned his degree in advertising from FSU.

He and his wife, Eloise, were honored as the School of Communication’s Distinguished Alumni in 2010, and the Bill & Eloise Mills Scholarship assists undergraduate students in Communication. One of their sons, William Mills III, serves on the College of Communication & Information’s Leadership Board.

“The College of Communication & Information has lost a great supporter and a dear friend,” CCI Dean Larry Dennis said. “Our thoughts are with the Mills family.”

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at Patterson’s Funeral Home Sandy Springs location, 173 Allen Road NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. After a private family internment at Georgia National Cemetery, a public memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, March 19, at the Chapel of Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, 2715 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to Bill and Eloise’s home for a celebration of Bill’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bill & Eloise Mills Scholarship at The Florida State University’s College of Communication & Information at  https://one.fsu.edu/foundation/donate/college/communication-information/donation-form , select from the drop down menu “Designate a Fund” and enter “Bill & Eloise Mills” #1753 or mail to “FSU Foundation Fund #1753”, PO Box 3062739, 2010 Levy Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301-2739.