Bessie Mae Miller

Bessie Mae Noland Miller was born August 15, 1910 in Winchester, Kentucky, to Edward and Emma Nolan. Her formative years were spent there with her loving family which included an older brother and younger sister.

After graduation from Oliver Street High School, she attended Kentucky State Industrial now Kentucky State University. While attending Kentucky State, she met her future husband Leon Perry Miller. To this union four sons and two daughters were born.

Bessie united with St. Andrews AME Church at an early age. After moving to Almo, she joined Pleasant Hill Free Will Baptist Church and served many years as secretary of the Sunday School and church. She was president of the Missionary Society in Almo and president of the Eddyville District Conference for a number of years.

She began her teaching in Casey County, Kentucky and later taught at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Almo. She also worked as a substitute teacher at Douglass High School in Murray. She was a valuable helpmate to Leon in his duties as principal of Douglass High School. She was invaluable to him as she served as his unofficial secretary. She was active in PTA and served as a member for the Head Start Council in Murray.

She loved cooking and served delicious, wholesome and nutritious meals for her family and friends. Her other special interests were quilting and sewing. Special hobbies were tending her beautiful flowers and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-six years, Leon P. Miller and her brother, Thomas Noland and sister, Ruth Oliver.

Survivors to cherish her memory are sons Edward R. Miller and Don R. Miller of Almo; Leon R. (Patricia) Miller, Brooklyn New York and Carl M. (Susie) Miller, Atlanta Georgia; daughters Ruth Gwendolyn Diggs, Jamaica, New York and Ollie J. (Bobby) Smith, Atlanta Georgia. Grandchildren are Edward M. Miller, Concord, New Hampshire, Karen Diggs, Jamaica, New York, Leon R. Miller Jr, Brooklyn, New York; Carlene Y. Miller, Nashville, Tennessee, Jocelyn (Richard) Cox, Atlanta, Georgia; Carl M. (Valerie) Miller Jr.; Kimberly Miller and Shannon Miller, Brooklyn, New York; Deidre M. Miller, Union City, Georgia; Khalil Miller, Sun City, Arizona. Great grandchildren are Ira Corey Diggs, Jamaica, New York, Jordan Ali, Ashley Tyler and Jade St. Clair, Brooklyn, New York. Sisters-in-law are Ora M Jacob, Clintonville, Kentucky; Bessie Miller, Dayton, Ohio and Brother-in-law, James Jacobs, Frankfort, Kentucky. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family wishes to thank the many friends for their prayers, comforting messages, cards, floral tributes and other expressions of kindness shown during the illness and passing of our loved one. Special thanks go to Spring Creek Nursing Home staff for the loving care shown to our mother.

Funeral Services will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, December 21, 2013 in the chapel of the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home. Bro. Larry Jamison will officiate with burial to follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Almo, Kentucky. Visitation will be held 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, December 20, 2013 at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home.

J.H. Churchill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.