MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (WSIL) -- The community is finally getting a chance to say goodbye to Mike Mills, a barbecue legend.
His visitation and memorial service is scheduled for Monday.
The Barbecue Community is getting the opportunity to gather in-person on Monday for Barbecue legend Mike Mills' memorial.
Mike passed away, in December 2020.
"I hope it will be a really comforting day for our family, for all of our local friends, the barbecue friends who have traveled here from all over the country," said owner of 17th Street Barbecue Amy Mills.
His daughter, and now the owner of 17th Street Barbecue Amy Mills says Mike Mills was larger than life and was known by people all around the world.
"What he really loved was Murphysboro and Southern Illinois, and the ability he had to shine a spotlight on our region and draw people to our region, all for the love of barbecue," said Mills.
Amy says with Mike Mills' passing and the pandemic, it's been a tough year for all businesses, including 17th Street.
"We are slowly rebounding, we are trying to get back open again seven days a week. We are still tryng hire enough staff to be able to open properly. It's really sort of a long slow road," said Mills.
Even through it's been tough and the passing of Mike even tougher they too will attend the visitation and service.
"Absolutely I will be attending, it makes me proud. Proud that I have been a part of the legacy he was able to build through his barbecue and I'm just proud to be a part of it," said Ryan Harper, an employee of 17th Street of 14-years.
Mike Mills was born July 15, 1941 and died December 29, 2020.
The service is at United Methodist Church in Murphysboro.
Visitation starts at 11 a.m. and the service begins at noon.
