THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
|
When another
baby girl was born to William J. "Bud" Miller (1849-1919) and Jane Malinda Collins Miller (1861-1931) that cold
day,
Here is a brief
story of the life of Frances Verdie Miller, educator.
Verdie's
mother, Malinda Jane, was a granddaughter
of Thompson Collins (ca 1785-ca 1858) and Celia Self Collins
(ca.1787-1880), among the first settlers in
Frances Verdie Miller's siblings were James Francis
"Frank" Miller who married Addie Dean;
Gordon Spence Miller who was born and died February 3, 1889; Ruth L.
Miller who was born and died September 5, 1890; Stephen Grady Miller
(1891-1932) who married Birdie Bryan and became the father of Jane
Miller and Zell Bryan Miller, (the latter
a long-time Lieutenant Governor, then Governor of Georgia, and U. S.
Senator); Lannie R. Miller who married Dr.
S. Vanus Hunter; Benjamin Dwight Miller
(1898-1965) who married Laura Saxon; Bascom
Hedden Miller, better known by his
initials, B. H. (1900-1967), a noted barber of Union County, who
married Idell Sampson Everett; and William
Fletcher Miller who married Fannie Mae Shuler.
To earn a
living for his wife and family of six living children, "Bud" Miller
farmed his bottom land in Choestoe District and owned and operated a
country store.
Devout in their
living and practice of their faith, "Bud" and Jane Miller were regular
church attendees and made sure their children were likewise regular in
activities of the
Verdie and
her siblings attended
Although a
beautiful lady, Verdie chose a teaching
career over marriage and family. Remaining single all of her life, she
devoted herself to educating students.
She was always
close to her brother, Stephen Grady, who was four years
her senior. When Dr. Joseph A. Sharp, a beloved teacher at
In 1942,
Frances Verdie Miller made a move to
In 1947,
Her
achievements read like a "Who's Who Among
Famous Women." She was a member of the American Association of
University Women, the Georgia and National Deans of Women, the Delta
Kappa Gamma National Women's Educational Society, and the LaGrange
Women's Club.
But foremost in
her achievements was her faithfulness to
When the
portrait of Miss Miller was unveiled at a special ceremony, the then
pastor of the church, the Rev. Dr. Reynolds Greene, praised her for her
contributions to education. But her humility and leadership as a
teacher of the Word of God prompted Dr. Greene to conclude: "Her
Christian character is a living example for the class named in her
honor."
From her
retirement in 1964 until her death on
From humble
roots on a farm in Choestoe, Frances Verdie
Miller went out to make a difference in the lives of countless students
and others touched by her influence.
[Ethelene
Dyer Jones is a retired educator, freelance writer, poet, and historian.
She may be reached at e-mail edj0513@windstream.net;
phone 478-453-8751; or mail
Back To Union County, Georgia GenWeb Site