Dwight D. McMillan, Sr., "Mr. Mac" was born in Bamberg, S.C., on January 14, 1946, to the late Rev. Eugene and Elouise Mitchell McMillan. He was the youngest of eight brothers and sisters. After the death of his father in 1947 and his mother's illness, Mr. McMillan was raised by his aunt and uncle, John Oliver and Marian Mitchell Oliver, formerly of Orangeburg, S.C.

He began his formal education at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Cope, S.C., where Mrs. Oliver realized his musical inclination early and enrolled him in the Orangeburg County public school system. He discovered his love for music and began playing the saxophone in 1959 at Wilkinson High School. After graduating from high school in 1963, he attended Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C. to pursue a degree in music. In 1967, Mr. Mac obtained a B.S. Degree in Music Education from Claflin University and accepted his first teaching position in Dorchester School District #3 as a math teacher and then with Jenkins Hill High School in 1967, where he served as their band director for 12 years.

He performed professionally with a musical group called the Exotics, which he co-founded and managed with Walter Bowers, Harry Palmer, Stewart Thompson and Rogers Jarvis. They toured extensively throughout the Mid-West and the eastern United States during the 1960s and 1970s and played with musical artists such as Patti Labelle, The Dells, Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye, Peaches and Herb, ZZ Hill, Joe Tex, Denise La Salle, Candi Staten, Ollie and the Nightingales, The Bar-Kays, Eddie Floyd, Al Green, Mel & Tim, David Ruffin, Roger Redding (Otis Redding's brother), King Floyd, Mike Williams, Clarence Carter, Bobby Womack, Jackie Wilson, and Peabo Bryson, to name a few.

After earning a Master's Degree in School Counseling from South Carolina State University, he accepted the position of Band Director at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. During his eighteen-year tenure in Orangeburg School District #5, the Marching Band, Concert, and Jazz Bands consistently received superior ratings at festivals and state competitions. In 1995, Mr. McMillan retired from the S.C. Public School System and accepted a position with Claflin University as the Director of Bands, where he served for five years.

Mr. McMillan made history being the first African American to be inducted into the S.C. Band Director's Hall of Fame in 2000. He has left a permanent mark on the lives of his family members, students, and members of the community. His daily actions demonstrated his passion for music, people, and the arts. He believed in equality for all as he also participated in boycotts as a young man where he was arrested and spent a few days in jail. These experiences all motivated Mr. McMillan to dream big and strive for greatness. He was a kind, humble man who was inspired by doing things with integrity and fairness. He strove for excellence in everything he did. He was the master of bringing out the best in his students and making them believe that they could do anything if they were willing to work hard for it.

Mr. McMillan was married to his high school sweetheart, Margie Whetstone McMillan, for 58 years. Their relationship demonstrated unconditional love, where they consistently showed love and respect for one another. Margie unselfishly gave all of her time and attention to care for Mr. Mac and their children. She was always by his side to support him in all of his endeavors. In retirement, when Mr. Mac's health started to decline, Margie did not hesitate once to be the support that he needed. Their relationship and marriage were perfect examples of honoring their vow to one another until death do us part.

Mr. McMillan was an intelligent man with a heart of gold. He was a mathematician, musician, entrepreneur, son, brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, cousin, friend, educator, and a believer in our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. On March 1, 2022, our Lord and Savior peacefully called our earthly angel home. He was a good steward of his time and fulfilled his temporal assignment. Mr. Dwight Delano McMillan, Sr., was a dedicated family man whose love and devotion has left a blueprint for others to follow. His legacy will live on through the memories shared by his family, friends, and former students. We were all blessed to have been touched by an angel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Eugene McMillan and Elouise Mitchell McMillan Nimmons, John Oliver and Marion Mitchell Oliver, one sister, Elois Watson, and three brothers, LaBron McMillan, Vereen McMillan and Eugene McMillan.

Mr. Dwight McMillan, Sr. leaves to cherish his wife of 58 years, Margie W. McMillan of Orangeburg, S.C., one son, Dr. Dwight D. McMillan, Jr. (Adrienne), one daughter, Kathy L. McMillan-Bennon (Anthony), five granddaughters, Gabrielle Bennon, Adia Bennon, Alexandria Bennon, Shani McMillan and Layla McMillan. One great-grandson, Hendrix Bennon, one sister, Marcelette Snell, two brothers, Charles McMillan and Clarence McMillan (Carrie), a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members and friends.