Barbara Miller

Barbara Jean Miller, 91, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2025, surrounded by family at her home in Rossville, Georgia. Beloved mother, sister, aunt, friend and mentor, Barbara will be profoundly missed by all.

Barbara was born April 22, 1934, in Kensington, Georgia, to Willie Clarence Rush and Ethel Beatrice Rush (née Byrd). She and her older sister, Betty, were close in age and friendship their whole lives, speaking by phone nearly every day for the past thirty years, even when separated by thousands of miles.

Barbara attended public school in Walker County, Georgia, and in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After high school, she fell deeply in love with and married Keith Harold Miller, an auto mechanic and the cousin of a close friend.

Keith was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army in Korea and was later assigned to Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma. After he was discharged, they moved back to Tennessee and had one son, Keith Anthony (Tony). When Tony was young, the family relocated to Lehigh Acres, Florida, and later to Monticello, Florida. They spent many happy years in this quiet, historic town, in a home surrounded by woods and flowers. A few years after Keith's passing in 2000, Barbara and Tony returned to the Chattanooga area to be near their Miller relatives.

Barbara's career included several years at the Tennessee Valley Authority, helping to bring affordable electricity to rural communities, and thirty-plus years as a legal secretary. She enjoyed card games and was the host with the most, making everyone at the table feel welcome. She was an excellent cook and loved gardening, well-known for both her fried chicken and beautiful roses. Barbara also had an eye for matchmaking-she introduced Keith's brother Jody to his future wife, Pat.

A lifelong Baptist and strong woman, Barbara lived a life of faith and service. She led an Adult Sunday School class at First Baptist of Fort Oglethorpe for a dozen years and was beloved by its participants. Her radio was always tuned to sacred music, gospel and hymns. As a young teen, Barbara sang in a quartet with her sister, Betty, and two friends on a Sunday morning radio program. A young church member who was in the hospital for cancer treatment heard them and requested they sing "I'll Fly Away" the following Sunday, which they did. Afterward, they drove by the hospital to wave to the grateful little girl, who waved back from her upper floor window.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, and her beloved brother, Billy. She is survived by her son, Tony Miller; sister, Betty Guest; brothers- and sisters-in-law Pat and Jody Miller; Gary Miller, and Betty and Don McKerley; nephews Charles Guest (Erin Milnes) and Danny Miller; great-nephew Duncan Guest; and many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Memorial Service will be held Monday, November 10, at 1:00 PM, at First Baptist of Fort Oglethorpe, 2645 Old Lafayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.