Miller, Mildred George

Mildred George Miller, 95, of Poplar Hill, passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011, at the Pulaski Rehab and Health Center in Pulaski, Va. She was born within Smyth County, in Broadford, Va., on January 21, 1916. Her late husband, Joseph Shannon Miller Sr., preceded her in death in 1999. After receiving her two-year normal teaching certificate from Radford College, she taught in Tazewell County at Claypool Hill for four years. She then married and moved to Poplar Hill in 1942, raised three boys and was happy in her role of being a farmer’s wife. After completing her B.S. degree at Radford College in 1960, she taught third and fourth graders in four different Giles County schools before retiring in 1978. For many years she was a member of Shady Grove Methodist Church and Walker’s Creek Presbyterian Church. In 1993 when she gave up housekeeping and moved to Pulaski Retirement Community, Walker’s Creek Presbyterian Church became a historical site and at that time Mildred moved her church membership to the New Dublin Presbyterian Church in Dublin, Va. In addition to her love of Christ, church, family, and doing for others, Mildred enjoyed quilting, studying history, working on family genealogy, and cooking; most family members and friends always left the Miller farm with something Joe and Mildred had grown or prepared. Mildred was not only an active member of the DAR, UDC, and Giles County Historical Society; she also participated in many church and community activities. Both Mildred and Joe had a devoted Christian upbringing, accepting Jesus as their Savior, and raised their family with that same strong Christian foundation. A devoted mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, she will be greatly missed by all. She is survived by her three sons and their wives, Joseph Shannon Miller Jr., and Dodie, of Greensboro, N.C., William Thomas Miller and Ellie, of Pearisburg, Va., and Worth McDonald Miller and Teresa, of Roanoke, Va.; five grandchildren, Patricia Miller Church and husband, Danny, Benjamin Thomas Miller and wife, Mary, Mary Ellen Miller Harman and husband, Jonathan, Andrew Nash Miller, and Hannah Miller Aschliman and husband, Kurt; four great-grandchildren, Daniel Shannon Church, Cayce Ann Church, Gavin Tucker Miller, and Macey Caroline Miller; and many nieces and nephews also survive her. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home located in White Gate at 2508 Walker’s Creek Valley Road, Pearisburg, Va. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at the funeral home with the Rev. Andrew Taylor-Troutman officiating. Interment will follow in the Walker’s Creek Cemetery in White Gate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Walker’s Creek Historical Presbyterian Church, Inc., 369 Walker’s Creek Valley Road, Pearisburg, VA 24134 or to the New Dublin Presbyterian Church, 5331 New Dublin Church Road, Dublin, VA 24084. The family also wishes to offer heartfelt gratitude to all the personnel at the Pulaski Retirement Community and personal sitters for their diligent and competent care, making Mom’s last years, as much as possible, comfortable and enjoyable.