Reverend Horace Roger Mills, Jr. is a distinguished figure from Morristown, Tennessee, where he graduated from Morristown Hamblen East High School. He then attended Morristown College, earning an Associate of Arts Degree in Religion and Psychology. He graduated as the class Salutatorian, Phi Beta Kappa, and a Southern Regional Honors Council member. During his college years, Rev. Mills held various roles, including Assistant Men's Dorm Director, Basketball Statistician, Head Women's Softball Coach, and Assistant Track Coach.

After retiring from the City of Morristown Parks and Recreation Department in 2005, Rev. Mills continued to serve his community. Since 1987, he has been the Senior Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Whitesburg, Tennessee. His leadership extends to various organizations, including:

  • Hamblen County Ministerial Alliance: served as president, vice-president, and secretary and chaired several committees (1993-2002)

  • Bethel District Baptist Missionary & Educational Association: served as President of the youth and congress department and chaired several committees

  • Union of Churches and Ministerial Alliance: elected first President in 2009, where he was given the title Bishop Mills

 Rev. Mills has also served on several boards, including:

  • The American Red Cross - Morristown Chapter (1987)

  • Progressive Business Association (2005)

  • Walters State Advisory Committee on Minority Student Recruitment (2006)

  • MATCH (Minority Action Team for Community Health) (2006)

  • Ebony Cultural Organization Board of Directors (2007)

  • Optimist Club of Uptown Morristown (2007)

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Build the Dream

 His dedication has earned him numerous awards, including:

  • Hamblen County Ministerial Alliance Pastor of The Year (1985 and 2003)

  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Community Service Award (1998)

  • Community Ministerial Leadership Award (1992)

  • Cambridge Who’s Who (2006)

  • Reverend Cecil C. Mills, Sr. Martin Luther King Dream Achiever Award (2009)

  • Union of Churches and Ministerial Alliance Pastor of the Year (2023)

 As Founder-President of AHERN (African American Health, Education, Religion and News) Incorporated, Rev. Mills leads an African American Communication Ministry. He is also the publisher of AHERN Magazine and the former owner of KJEM Publication. Rev. Mills is the proud father of Tyra Owens and grandfather of Makayla, Chantel, and Terrell Owens.

Our Founder-President