John Henry Miller

John Henry Miller (age 104), son of the late Alexander Miller and Rebecca Booth, was born on August 28, 1916, in Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies, passed on into glory on August 15, 2021. He was the youngest of seven children. He worked on his father’s farm with his siblings until he moved to Kingston, Jamaica where he met the love of his life, Mavis Walker, in 1939, and later married her. He worked at the Kingston Ice Making Company from 1935 to 1973.

In December 1973, John emigrated to the U.S.A. with his three youngest children to reunite with Mavis and the rest of his family in Brooklyn, New York. John was employed at the Salvation Army Executive Headquarters in New York City as a Security Guard, retiring in 1994. John and his wife moved to Tampa, Florida soon after on Mavis doctor’s recommendation. When it became difficult to care for themselves in their own home, they moved in with their son, Charles and his wife Rose in Dover, Florida in 2003, who cared for them until Mavis’ death November 3, 2005, and his death on August 15th.

John was a devoted follower of Christ and a member of First Baptist Church, Brandon. John was also a beloved member of the Hillsborough County Senior Adult Day Center where he enjoyed going three days a week for many years.

John was affectionately known as “Papa” by his children, grandchildren, close friends, and relatives. He was an avid Yankee baseball fan and later a Tampa Bay Rays fan. He enjoyed playing his guitar and harmonica, coloring, drawing, cooking, and spending time in his garden. He was a master at playing Dominos, and he thoroughly enjoyed dropping a “6 Love” on anyone daring to challenge him - he was the Domino King. John was a devoted husband and hard-working provider for his family, a humble man, and a peacemaker, who was always smiling. He was loved by everyone he encountered.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Mavis; son, Howard; his brothers: Kaleb, Lester and Alfonso Miller, his sisters: Hilda, Serena, and Gertie Miller; his niece Hilda Barrett; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Miller, and grandchildren: Desrene Miller and Courtney Smith.

His wonderful legacy will forever be cherished in the lives of his sons and family that Survive him: Raymond Glenn Miller; Charles E. Miller and his wife, Rose; and Cleveland D. Miller; his daughters: Pauline F. Miller; Andrea R. Tucker and her husband, Noel; and Althea K. Mendoza and her husband, Kenneth; nieces: Joyce Rowe, Lilla Miller-Morales, Cynthia Miller-White-Scott, and Sonia Miller-Pinnock; his 21 grandchildren: Caroline Dawes, Maxine Miller, Donnette Martin, Christopher Miller, Sheryl Oscar, Anthony Taylor, Raymond Miller, Jr., Monique Miller, Vickeya and Tamisha Miller, Stephen Tucker, Cetopia Miller, Gregory Dowdell, Jordan Mendoza; Aisha, Sarah, Charles, Jr., Naomi, David, Rebecca, and Esther Miller; 26 great grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends who loved "Papa" very much.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 4, 2021, at the Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 East Lake Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33610 (813-626-3161) with Entombment to follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4202 East Lake Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33610 . The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home and repast following the interment at the Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories in the Magnolia Room.