Longtime Panolian employee, Rick Mills, 64, died Thursday, November 12, 2015 at his residence.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Dickins Funeral Home. Visitation will be held noon until service time. 

Owner and editor, Rupert Howell wrote this on The Panolian’s Facebook page:

“Sorry to confirm Thursday’s death of a friend, school and work mate, Ricky Mills, SP Class of 1969. Coroner Gracie Grant-Gullege said a massive heart attack caused the death. Rick had been a faithful employee for many years at The Panolian. He died at his home around noon Thursday. Sheriff Dennis Darby, Chief Deputy Chris Franklin and Deputy Lieutenant Edward Mixon entered his home and found him after Panolian co-workers became concerned because he didn’t show up to work on time—something Rick would never do. We will miss Rick in more ways than anyone would know. Arrangements will be announced later. He leaves two brothers, David Mills and Buddy Mills, both of Batesville.—Rupert Howell”