Johnetta Blanche Miller

(June 16, 1942-May 2, 2015)

Johnetta Blanche Miller (née Solomon), was born on June 16, 1942 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is the youngest daughter of John Frank Solomon and Roberta Lee Solomon (née McChristian). With her parents' guidance, Johnetta learned to love the Lord while growing up in Bethel African Methodist Episcopal ("A.M.E.") Church in Chattanooga. At Bethel, Johnetta accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was active in the Sunday School, the ACE League and sang in the children’s junior choir.

Johnetta attended Archer Knob Junior High School and Howard High school. Johnetta played on the girls' basketball team at Archer and Howard, but it was at Howard where she shined as the starting center. She so dominated her opponents that she set the Tennessee state record at that time for the most points scored in a girl's high school basketball game. Everyone in town knew about her achievement since it got a nice write-up in the Chattanooga Times. Johnetta's celebrity status also extended off the basketball court. She was a great dancer, and her dancing reputation earned her an interview on local television.

Johnetta married Charles Lloyd, her high school sweetheart, and from this union were born two sons: Duran Anthony and Kenneth Lebron Lloyd. That marriage ended in divorce, and Johnetta decided she needed a change of scenery. In 1966, she and her two sons moved to Denver, Colorado where her older sister Emma Jean and her maternal aunt Mildred Trice already lived.

Once she landed in Colorado, Johnetta got her first job at Stouffer's "Top of the Rockies" club which was located in one of Denver's tallest buildings and offered a spectacular panoramic view of the Front Range. She later held jobs at the Wonder Bread Company and King Soopers. As a loving and faithful person, Johnetta also provided care-giving services for family and friends.

Being a good A.M.E., Johnetta endeavored to find a new spiritual home in Denver and joined Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church. She loved Campbell and was very active in the Inspirational Choir and Gospel choirs. Loving to work with the youth, Johnetta worked tirelessly with the Sunday School and the Y.P.D. (Young People's Department) program. Johnetta was a renowned cook whose culinary creations satisfied a lot of hungry souls at church functions and at home.

Soon after she joined Campbell, Johnetta met Hyman Miller, Sr. They dated for two years and then married on February 28th 1969. From this union they had three children: twins Adrian Eugene and April Jean and Hyman Miller Jr.

Johnetta also served in Campbell's chapter of the Women's Missionary Society (W.M.S.) and on Campbell's Trustee Board. Johnetta cherished serving in the W.M.S. on the local, district and conference levels. One of the happiest moments in her life came in 2012 when she became a lifetime member of the Missionary Society and won the Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church's Mary F. Handy Missionary of the Year Award.

Johnetta was an artist who enjoyed making arts and crafts. She had a gift for handcrafting beautiful custom photo albums for friends, family and on special occasions. Johnetta adored creating artificial flowers (particularly boutonnieres) and arrangements for weddings and church events (e.g., Women's Day and the annual Vesper Hour). She also took pride in decorating Campbell's sanctuary for the Christmas and Easter seasons. Campbell still uses the offering and tithing bags she created.

Johnetta lives on in the hearts and minds of many family, friends and loved ones, including: her loving husband of 46 years, Hyman Miller Sr., her children Duran Lloyd, Kenny Lloyd (wife Renée), Adrian Miller, April Miller-Cook (husband Stanley) and Hyman Miller, Jr., her step-daughter Sandra Faye Miller, her elder sisters Joyce Ann Halsey and Emma Jean Blackburn, her sisters-in-law Essie Mae Danner, Willie Mae Vaughan and Ruth Ella Jones, her 4 step-grandchildren, and a host of cousins, nephews and nieces.

Johnetta wanted to be remembered as a good Christian, wife, mother, sister, friend and cook. We can truly say that she was all that and more. We love you, Johnetta, and we miss you!