Nayona Faye Millard

Nayona Faye Crawford Millard left this earth into the Loving Arms of God on January 9, 2025. She passed away in her home of 62 years with her children by her side. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 17 at Cason Monk from 5:00-8:00 pm with services on Saturday, January 18 at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches.

Nayona was the second daughter of five girls and grew up in her beloved San Augustine, Texas where she was the valedictorian of her High School class of 1954. She moved to Nacogdoches and joined the First Baptist Church where she met Robert Joshua ‘Rudy’ Millard at a youth function and soon married. Rudy's father, Bob, later told Nayona, "I knew my son was in love when he started telling the cows about you."

A pivotal moment in her life was due to an accident. Her father was severely injured, losing a leg, when she was in high school. She moved in with her beloved grandmother Minton for a year awaiting his recovery. The home was simple but always clean with a fresh flower from the yard placed daily in a vase on the meager kitchen table. Nayona learned from her the phrase, “Bloom where you are planted.”

This could not be a better way to sum up her life. Rudy and Nayona built their lifetime home in 1962. The home was never grandiose but was made beautiful over the years with her loving touches. She turned her simple ranch brick house into a beautiful home. Her yard was her sanctuary with azaleas surrounding the pink brick with a symphony of roses, gardenias, and magnolia blossoms. She was a devout Christian and embraced her Faith by working as a Sunday School teacher, hosting Bible studies, and volunteering for whatever was needed in her church homes.

She is survived by sisters Doniece Smith of San Augustine and Julia Walker and husband Randy of Princeton, Louisiana. Son, Taylor Millard and wife Sandy of Nacogdoches, daughter Linda Millard Morgan and husband Wesley Morgan of Tomball. Five grandchildren, Hannah Morgan Roberts of The Woodlands, Alban Millard Benitez and husband Ben of Bulverde, Robert Millard and wife Lauren of Garrison, Robert Morgan and wife Kendra of Spring, and Mary Morgan Palmeri and husband Anthony of Tomball. Ten great grandchildren, Bethany, Madi, Ben, Bailee, Ellie, Shamus, Jameson, Andy, Olivia, Peter and Chloe. She was preceded in death by her parents Lennis and Ferrol Crawford, husband Rudy Millard, and sisters Ann Crawford and Edna Merle Wheless.

Nayona will be forever known for her needlepoint. Her home is filled with her meticulous stitching examples. Her passion was history and genealogy. Her favorite thing in this world was to have a cup of coffee and homemade cookies with her numerous friends and visit about all sorts of topics. She will be missed by so many but she definitely bloomed where she was planted.

You may donate to any historical society, hospice, or Old North Baptist Church PO Box 632861 Nacogdoches, TX 75963 if you like but send flowers. She loved flowers.