Thomas Howard Miller

On Tuesday, January 8, 2014 a Master Carpenter completed building his earthly home and entered quietly and peacefully to his heavenly mansion above. Thomas Howard Miller was born April 28, 1928 in New Bern, NC. Thomas was the sole survivor of his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Erasmus and Lelia Dixon Miller; and his five brothers, Willie Earl, George Albeum, Leonard Lewis, Robert Edwin and Donald Hayes. Thomas was a man of incredible values and immeasurable quiet strength.

He utilized a storehouse of opportunities to acquire many rewards and accomplishments. He attended Greene County Public School and graduated from Green Training Center in 1946. He graduated from NC A &T, receiving his undergraduate degree in Industrial Arts in 1950. In 1951 he enlisted in the US Army, and in December for that year he came home for Christmas. By January, 1952 SGT (ES) Miller was sent to the Korean War. Upon his return he was in Ready Reserve until he was Honorably Discharged in 1959.

Thomas left NC after his military service because he wanted to teach Industrial Arts. In 1958, he was teaching and coaching Women’s Basketball in Kentucky when he met and married Mariruth Collier in Beckley, WV. They had two children, Queen Minerva and Thomas, Jr. The two of them became two of four of the first African American educators employed by the Boone County Board of Education. WV was the first place he was able to acquire a position teaching the subject he wanted to teach. As the Shop and Mechanical Drawing Instructor at Scott High School he left legacy of an unbending pursuit of excellence. He returned to NC A &T to receive his Masters Degree - he took education courses in Engineering, Electrical, and Plumbing. He was prolific in Mechanical Drawing, Blueprints and furniture making. He was a Master in his craft and took tremendous pride in his work. As a child, when his brothers were working or playing together, Thomas could be seen on the porch with hammer and nail in hand.

After he retired from 37 years of teaching he married Thelma Jean, and they became devoted to taking care of each other. They spent many happy and precious moments with their family and church. Thomas was blessed with a strong, cohesive, and fun extended family- Rebecca and Alfred’s spouses and children spent many happy and precious moments together. Thomas enjoyed good health, the love of family and friends, the rewards of employment, the respect of his peer, and the fellowship of his church family, who loved and admired him and had favorite songs they loved to hear him sing….

Thomas blessed the lives of many – of which are the immediate family members – his loving, devoted, prayer warrior – Thelma Jean, his devoted children, Queen Minerva (Luther), Thomas Jr. (Diana), Alfred (Uvette), Rebecca (Jessie), two grandchildren, Christy and Marian. He was the proud brother-in-law of Erskine Thomas Davis (they were friends long before he became his brother-in-law), three sisters-in-law Loretta Fullen and Carolyn Saunders, and Ophelia Motley; and a host of many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2014 at Handley Funeral Home, Danville, WV the Rev. Roberta Smith and the Rev. Michael Pollard officiating. Burial will follow in Danville Memorial Park, Danville.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.