Nettie Lou Miller was born in January 31, 1938 in Marshallville, GA to the late Thomas Jefferson Miller Sr. and Malissie Fish.
Nettie lost her mother at the age of 3 years old; it was said that every day, at the exact same time after the death of her mother, Nettie would stop whatever she was doing, sit on the front porch stairs and cry; she could not be comforted.
Nettie received her high school diploma from Lamson-Richardson High School on May 28, 1956; where she also played basketball (and a great basketball player she was). Upon graduation, Nettie moved to Akron, OH to live with her siblings, specifically Annie Ruth Norris, the only mother she had ever known.
Nettie, as we all know, wore many hats and had many talents; we often relate her to “Martha” from the bible. Upon coming to Akron, Nettie worked various jobs, finally working for the Akron General Medical Center where she started as a Nursing Assistant, then a Surgical Assistant, and ultimately retiring as the Surgical Supply Coordinator. Nettie learned to sew, knit, and crochet and she taught others how to do the same. She learned to make floral arrangements, corsages, boutonnieres, and fruit baskets; she self-appointed herself to make fruit baskets for the sick and shut-in members of her church and the community. She was a care-giver to many, and if she knew you had a need she would do her best to supply that need. She may fuss at you the whole time she’s helping you, but she fussed from a heart of love. She was a member of the Ed Davis Seniors, the Greater Westside Council of Block Clubs where she served as the Coordinator and Treasurer for the S.H.I.P. (Senior Home Improvement Program), and she often volunteered with the Buchtel PTA, serving in the concession stands during volleyball season and helping where ever help was needed.
Nettie’s spiritual journey began in the early 1960’s when she joined the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Hubert Powell. While at Jerusalem, Nettie sang in the Senior Choir, directed the Youth and Senior Choirs, and served on the Trustee Board. She then joined the Mountain of the Lord Fellowship church when it was established in the year 2000. Sister Nettie, Auntie Nettie, and Mother Nettie, served in various capacities at the church, Housekeeping, Finance Committee, Usher, Hospitality, Evangelist Ministry Team, and the F.E.E.D. Ministry. She also loved to decorate the church during the Christmas season.
Although Nettie never married, she did have one daughter, the pride and joy of her soul. Nettie was a family oriented woman, she loved spending time with and taking care of them all. She will truly be missed by all who knew her.
Nettie is preceded in death by parents, Thomas Jefferson Miller Sr. and Malissie Miller; brothers, T. J. Jr., Willie Frank and David Miller Jones; sister, Annie Ruth Norris and brother-in-law, James Norris.
She leaves to cherish her memory daughter, Arelia Henry; granddaughters, Leah and Kayla Johnson; sister, Dorothy (John) McCree; sisters-in-law, Lavinnie and Geneva Miller, and Joan Jones. Although all of her nieces and nephews were special to her, she had special relationships with Delois Martin, Marthann (Bruce) Parms, Patricia (Henry) Brown, Joyce (Gerald) Hilton, Eugene Norris, Euna Tolbert, and Min. Charlotte Wade. She also leaves to cherish her memory, those whom she adopted into her family, Sheila Ray, Min. Linda McRay, and Barbara (Ernie) McCalister; best friend, Ms. Ann Johnson, and longtime friends, Mrs. Barbara (Joe) Bolar and Frances Neal. She also leaves a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.