Dorothy Louise Miller

Dorothy Louise Nixon Miller was born on November 29, 1937 in Nashville, Tennessee to the union of Ruby Lee Driver Nixon and James Henry (Buck) Nixon. She transitioned on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

Dorothy was educated in Davidson County Public Schools, attending Pearl High School in 1953, she later received her G.E.D. at Volunteer State College (2002).

Dorothy accepted Christ as a child and she joined Greater Christ Temple, after marriage to Charles J. Miller. she became a member of and attended First Community & Church for over sixty years.  

Dorothy married Charles James Miller in 1954, they enjoyed a number of years together until his passing.

Dorothy was employed with Lee Company for 28 years; and several years at the U.S. Post Office.

Dorothy loved people and they loved her. She had a sense of humor that always bought joy and laughter to anyone she met; she never met a stranger. She and grandchildren had raucous times playing Scrabble, most times making up words not to be found in anybody's dictionary (no matter the language). This inspired a love of reading for some of them. She loved babies and children and often said, "You can't spoil babies, you just love them and teach them right " She and Charles James Miller were married for over 68 years and enjoyed their lives loving family, meeting and giving to others, always working hard to provide for family, having fun times traveling, supporting family. They loved hearing her brother, James
Nixon who taught guitar and sang and unless he was out of the country, she was at all his musical performances.

Her father, James (Buck) Nixon named her after one of his sisters, Ann Louise Nixon Cooper, who she often visited in Atlanta and who visited James and family when she was girl in Nashville. President Obama spoke of her Aunt Ann in his first presidential victory speech, the fact that she told him she never believed she would ever live to see a black person as president of this county. Dorothy had a feisty spirit like her Aunt Ann.

Family and everyone loved her homemade rolls and her famous home-made ice cream at family reunions was always a hit. She would carefully wrap an old-style crank ice cream maker with a blanket to insulate and keep it cold while traveling to Ashland City or wherever the reunion was. Everyone would line up to get their cones and ice cream and she hardly ever ran out, so late-comers didn't miss out!

She was indeed a history lover and master story-teller and she always had pictures to share with those stories. Spending time with family was top priority for her. After a relative gave us a picture of her great great grandfather in his civil war uniform, and we had it placed in the TN State Museum, she felt truly proud and realized where she might have gotten her fighting spirit.

She loved God and her church family at Historic First Community Church for over sixty years. Whether she was volunteering the with Bethlehem Hot Lunch Program or breaking up a fight between neighborhood children at the bus stop, she always gave the best of herself, willing to step out and do things others might not do. She had an unwavering courage.

Dorothy was preceded in death by sister, Ruby Jean Howard and brother, James (Nick) Nixon, great grandchild Anterrio, and cousin Annie Merritt.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories, children, Ardana Yvetta (William) Foxx,  James Oliver (Margaret) Miller, Maurice Thomas (Crystal) Miller, Gregory Donell (Tanika) Miller; Grandchildren, Makia Miller, Nathan Miller, Keyona (Jsani) Courtney, Jahka Rashad Foxx, Tawana Holt,  Jamie A. Foxx, Sharie Miller, Ania Miller, Takia Miller; Great grandchildren,  Jahkaya. Jahka Jr., Peyton, Ashton, Summer, Rose, Mikeala; Close nieces, Michelle (Darnell) Clay and Marie Howard; Sister-in-law, Dorothy Johnson, her best cousins, Niva Smith, Mytle Jones; close friends, Audrey Hall, a host of other relatives and friends.