Helen Ivetta Pierce Miller

Dr. Helen Pierce Miller, age 86, a life-long resident of High Point, passed away quietly Friday morning in Albemarle. Dr. Miller was the wife of the late Errett D. Miller (E.D.), also of High Point. Helen was born March 8, 1925 in High Point, North Carolina, the youngest daughter of Ralph F. and Sarah Jester Pierce. She is survived by a loving daughter Peggy Miller Zakos(James) of Mt. Gilead, two sons Errett Dennis Miller, Jr.(Michelle) of Mesa, AZ and Ralph Curtis Miller(Carolyn) of Clemmons. Helen loved to share happy times and treats with her eight grandchildren, Jeremy D. Miller, Jason A. Miller, Matthew D. Miller of Mesa, AZ; Morgan M. Borgia of Prescott Valley, AZ; Christopher P. Miller of Winston-Salem, Carrie E. Miller of Clemmons, Kate W. Gallagher of Charlotte, Daniel R. Gallagher of Wilmington and with her 5 great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed close associations with many loving nieces and nephews and extended family members.

Helen grew up in High Point with her family and attended the local schools, graduating from High Point High School, class of 1942. She then attended High Point College where with diligent effort she graduated Cum Laude in May of 1945. Helen volunteered to work in the War Department upon graduation and when E.D. returned from air service with the Eighth Air Force in England, they were married July 4, 1945 in High Point.

Dr. Miller was a teacher and educator for over 30 years in the High Point area, teaching history and social studies to thousands of students. She loved working with young people and challenging them to use their minds and improve their world. She applied those lessons herself and completed her Master’s Degree and then her Doctorate of Education at UNC-Greensboro while teaching and raising an active family. Through the years, she taught at Allen Jay School, Ferndale Jr. High, Curry School in Greensboro, UNC-G, and High Point Central High where she first retired in 1989. She then spent a few more years teaching young adults at GTCC in Adult Education. As her last act of service, Helen directed that her remains be used for education and research at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

She was a founding and life-long member of High Point’s Christ United Methodist Church. In her active later years, Helen enjoyed traveling around the USA with E.D. They loved to see new sights and square dance with friends from all over the world. She was an avid reader, animal lover, bird watcher, and history buff extraordinaire. She and E.D. resided on Quaker Lane for forty years until their move to the Presbyterian Home and then River Landing.

The family will have a memorial service at 2:00pm on Sunday October 9, 2011, at Christ United Methodist Church, 1300 N. College Drive in High Point to be followed by a visitation with family in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to the Christ United Methodist Church Building Fund or the High Point University Scholarship Fund.