Joan Elizabeth

Miller

Joan Elizabeth Miller was born to Almeta Pauline Calloway and Egbert Cornelius Waddell on May 19, 1931. She was the oldest of two children and was devoted to her younger sister, Brenda from the start.

Joan attended Englewood public schools and cherished all the friendships she forged during those years. After graduating High School Joan united in holy matrimony with the love of her life, John William Miller. They were married on November 6, 1950 at Army Base Fort Bragg in NC. After John completed his enlistment, the couple returned to Englewood, where they built their lives and became an integral part of their beloved community. They were married for 63 years, until John's passing.

As a young girl, Joan joined the Bethany Presbyterian Church, where she dedicated her life to serving her Lord and Savior. Joan remained a member of Bethany her entire life. She would often mention that she and other believers from their community were privileged to worship at Bethany in lieu of attending the Presbyterian Church on "the hill". At Bethany, she took part in many activities throughout the years with her cousin Almeta Honis. As a teenager, she was the secretary of the Sunday School and choir member. In her later years she was ordained as a Deacon and Elder and took on the role as Clerk of Session. Her greatest love was the Fishes & Loaves Ministry. Joan would faithfully shop at ShopRite to buy food, and spend Mondays in the kitchen of Bethany, preparing meals for anyone who was in need.

As John and Joan built a life together, Joan took a job at Scholastic Magazine Publishing in Englewood Cliffs where she was ultimately promoted to the billing department. Even though she loved math, and loved her job, Joan resigned to care for her only son, Barry. When Barry reached school age, Joan brilliantly began working for the Englewood Public School System as a Teacher's Assistant. This way, when Barry was home, Joan was home. During her 19 years in the public school system, Joan loved working with young children, and took great pride in knowing the parents of the children in her classroom. It further strengthened her love and commitment to her community.

Joan, along with her sister was a member of Queen of Sheba Chapter #4, Order of the Eastern Star, PHA, and was proud to be a part of an organization dedicated to charity, truth, and shining a light throughout Englewood and beyond. Joan, wholly devoted to her family, was affectionately known as

"Mama" to many and leaves a legacy of love, compassion and faithfulness. Her love was undeniable and was never ending. She embodied the scripture that says love keeps no record of wrongdoing, but hopes all things, believes all things and endures all things.

Joan is predeceased by her parents, Almeta Pauline Calloway and Egbert Cornelius Waddell; her husband, John William Miller; her sister, Brenda Joyce McNeal; her nephew, Mark Joyce; and her cousin Almeta Honis. She leaves to mourn, her son Barry R. Miller, Sr. (Jill): granddaughter, Oyana Miller (Aaron); grandsons Barry Miller, Jr. and John William Miller II; great-grandsons Kelly Miller, Aaron Ramsey, Jr. and Malakai Alexander Miller; grandniece, Monique Nicole Barnett; great-grandniece, Imani Williams; great-grandnephew, Elias Jimenez, Jr.; her beloved cousins Larry and Sharon Suffern and a host of other family and friends.