Obituary for Johnnie E. Miller
Johnnie Eugene Miller was born on October 18, 1927, to John Henry and Adele Hysaw Miller in the Denver Heights neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas. He attended nearby schools, including St. Peter Claver, Cuney Elementary, and Frederick Douglas Middle School. Johnnie graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1945.
After high school, Johnnie attended and graduated from the Landig College of Mortuary Science in 1948. Johnnie always wanted to experience life in the big city and left San Antonio to live in New York and Philadelphia. However, Uncle Sam had a different plan. Johnnie was drafted into the US Army in 1951 and stationed in Seattle, Washington and was honorably discharged. He then obtained an Embalmer and Funeral Directing license in 1952.
In 1956, Johnnie married Hazel Timothy Alexander, and together, they had three children, Byron, Yolanda, and Norma. The couple was married for 20 years until her death in 1977.
During Johnnie’s career, he worked as a waiter, owned and operated a dump truck service and package store, and was a mortician. In addition, Johnnie served briefly as the funeral director for the Carter-Taylor Williams Mortuary.
However, Johnnie’s greatest accomplishment was co-founding the Miller Child Development Center with his first wife, Hazel, in 1969. Together they established one of the first centers designated to educate young children in an underserved community and to receive city funding. Although Hazel was responsible for the center’s curriculum and staffing, Johnnie was her inspiration, and he ensured the center had the necessary funding and operational support. As a result, the Miller Child Development Center is still family-operated today.
After the death of Hazel, Johnnie was the support system for his children and parents. He cared for his parents in their later years and advised his children on career and educational choices during and after college.
Later, Johnnie married his sweetheart, Alberta (Bert), in 1987. Together they created the foundation for their blended families. During their 35-year marriage, they cruised, vacationed in Hawaii, and made countless trips to visit their family and friends. But, most of all, they created a home with so much love and cherished memories.
Johnnie served his community as Booker T. Washington’s PTA President, a member of the Eastside Optimist Club, Eastside Redevelopment Corporation, Guadalupe Co. Municipal Utility District #1, and an Honorary member of the Sheriff’s Association of TX. Johnnie was a faithful member of Resurrection Baptist Church and enjoyed the Men’s Ministry.
Preceding in death are his parents, John and Adele Miller and his first wife, Hazel.
Left to cherish his memory are Alberta (Bert), his wife of 35+ years; his children, Byron (Monica) Miller, San Antonio, TX, Yolanda Miller, Austin, TX, Norma Miller, Atlanta, GA and Clifford (Carolyn) Glass, Schertz, TX; grandchildren, Natasha (Robert Sr.) Dunlap, and Nicole (Brandon Sr.) Dunlap of Moreno Valley, CA, John Miller, New York, NY, Byron T. (Tonjaka) Miller and Madison Miller, Houston, TX and Clifford Miller, Atlanta, GA. He also leaves to cherish in his memory seven great-grandchildren, cousins, and a host of special friends and neighbors.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers to donate to the Miller Child Development Center (501c3) at givelify.com
After high school, Johnnie attended and graduated from the Landig College of Mortuary Science in 1948. Johnnie always wanted to experience life in the big city and left San Antonio to live in New York and Philadelphia. However, Uncle Sam had a different plan. Johnnie was drafted into the US Army in 1951 and stationed in Seattle, Washington and was honorably discharged. He then obtained an Embalmer and Funeral Directing license in 1952.
In 1956, Johnnie married Hazel Timothy Alexander, and together, they had three children, Byron, Yolanda, and Norma. The couple was married for 20 years until her death in 1977.
During Johnnie’s career, he worked as a waiter, owned and operated a dump truck service and package store, and was a mortician. In addition, Johnnie served briefly as the funeral director for the Carter-Taylor Williams Mortuary.
However, Johnnie’s greatest accomplishment was co-founding the Miller Child Development Center with his first wife, Hazel, in 1969. Together they established one of the first centers designated to educate young children in an underserved community and to receive city funding. Although Hazel was responsible for the center’s curriculum and staffing, Johnnie was her inspiration, and he ensured the center had the necessary funding and operational support. As a result, the Miller Child Development Center is still family-operated today.
After the death of Hazel, Johnnie was the support system for his children and parents. He cared for his parents in their later years and advised his children on career and educational choices during and after college.
Later, Johnnie married his sweetheart, Alberta (Bert), in 1987. Together they created the foundation for their blended families. During their 35-year marriage, they cruised, vacationed in Hawaii, and made countless trips to visit their family and friends. But, most of all, they created a home with so much love and cherished memories.
Johnnie served his community as Booker T. Washington’s PTA President, a member of the Eastside Optimist Club, Eastside Redevelopment Corporation, Guadalupe Co. Municipal Utility District #1, and an Honorary member of the Sheriff’s Association of TX. Johnnie was a faithful member of Resurrection Baptist Church and enjoyed the Men’s Ministry.
Preceding in death are his parents, John and Adele Miller and his first wife, Hazel.
Left to cherish his memory are Alberta (Bert), his wife of 35+ years; his children, Byron (Monica) Miller, San Antonio, TX, Yolanda Miller, Austin, TX, Norma Miller, Atlanta, GA and Clifford (Carolyn) Glass, Schertz, TX; grandchildren, Natasha (Robert Sr.) Dunlap, and Nicole (Brandon Sr.) Dunlap of Moreno Valley, CA, John Miller, New York, NY, Byron T. (Tonjaka) Miller and Madison Miller, Houston, TX and Clifford Miller, Atlanta, GA. He also leaves to cherish in his memory seven great-grandchildren, cousins, and a host of special friends and neighbors.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers to donate to the Miller Child Development Center (501c3) at givelify.com