William Olliff Miller

William Olliff Miller - THOMASVILLE - William Olliff Miller, formerly of Pembroke, Ga., was born in Savannah, Ga., on January 15, 1920, and died in Thomasville, Ga., on February 10, 2011, at the age of 91, after a long illness. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Frank Olliff and Willie Mae Miller of Pembroke. Miller retired as a Commander in the Navy after 20 years of service. He was on active duty in the Pacific Theatre during World War II from Dec. 7th 1941, to the end of the war. Miller was primarily involved in the field of journalism and public relations. He lived a number of years in Springfield, Va. During his teen years he served as a page in the United States House of Representatives. He attended Armstrong College in Savannah in 1939 before joining the Navy. After early Navy service, he graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., with a degree in journalism in 1947. Later being re-activated in the Navy, he served in various public relations positions in the Navy and later with Lockheed Shipbuilding on the west coast and the American Gas Association in Arlington, Va. Miller is survived by his wife, Vernette Miller of Springfield, Va.; two children, Ruth Wertheim of Mississauga, Ont., Canada, and Barbara Mattick of Tallahassee, Fla.; son-in-law Stan Mattick of Tallahassee, Fla.; grandsons William Wertheim of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and Geoffrey Wertheim of Milton, Ont., Canada; and great grandchildren Ashlyn and Aiden Wertheim of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and Alexander and Christian Wertheim of Milton, Ont., Canada; sisters Betty Elkins of Pooler, Ga., and Ruth Lee of Springfield, Ga.; brother Homer Miller of Statesboro, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews; children of Vernette Miller, Jacqueline Mixson, Candyce N. Xenos, and Michael N. Odom. A memorial service will be held for Mr. Miller at a later date, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., near Washington, D.C. Contributions may be sent to Hospice of Southwest Georgia, 818 Gordon Avenue, Thomasville, GA 31792 Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home Effingham Chapel 912- 754-6421 Savannah Morning News February 23, 2011 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries .