Funeral Service for the Late Gloria Marie Miller, 56 years of St. Ann Crescent, off Culberts Hill, Winton Heights, will be held on Saturday March 31st, 11:00 a.m. at New Covenant Baptist Church, East-West Highway. Bishop Simeon Hall assisted by Associate Pastors of New Covenant Baptist Church will officiate. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Soldier Road.
Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians, #34 Nassau Street on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF
Gloria Miller
A TIME TO BE BORN
Gloria Marie was born to the parentage of Joslyn
and Priscilla Jarrett on the sixth day of May, 1955.
She was the first child from this union. "Glo", as
she was affectionately called, "glowed" in every
sense of the word. She had an excellent spirit.
She was soft-spoken, loving, humble and although
strong-willed, she always had a sweet smile and a
pleasant disposition.
A TIME TO SOW
Glo's early education began at St. Mary's pre-school and continued at Oakes Field Primary which at that time was called the Base Road School. She then matriculated to J. F. K. Secondary School which was located at the site of the present H. O. Nash Junior High School. Glo always wanted to be a teacher and from early childhood she would sit her siblings, the cat and the dog down and then proceeds to "teach" them. Her love for teaching pushed her to enroll at the Teachers' Training College (now the second campus for C. C. Sweeting Secondary School). She was determined to achieve excellence in her chosen field.
Glo met Mr. Wellington Edison Miller, her "Androsian stallion", and a beautiful courtship ensued. "Welly" was indeed her soul mate. He was quiet, loving, faithful, reliable and very much in love with her. Welly strummed his box guitar and sang his way into Glo's heart. They were joined in matrimony on July 30, 1977. God blessed this union with three sons: Terru, Wellington Jr. (deceased), and Tristan Miller.
In 1978, Glo was transferred to Marsh Harbour, Abaco along with her husband, who was now an Immigration Officer. She was posted to Spring City Central High School where she taught until 1980. In 1980, she was redeployed to New Providence where she taught at S. C. McPherson Junior High school for a short time before being transferred with her husband to Inagua where she taught at the Inagua All Age School from 1980 - 1982. She was once again transferred to New Providence and in late 1982 she was redeployed to the Columbus Primary School.
At Columbus Primary, Glo headed the Remediation Program. It was here that she helped to organize the "Garden Club" which she used as a tool to effectively teach her students who were mainly kinesthetic learners. Her hard work resulted in her being blessed with the title Teacher of the Year for the Northwestern District while at Columbus Primary School.
The need to perfect the gift with which God had blessed her resulted in Glo enrolling in the College of Saint Benedict. She attended classes at the campus here in Nassau and then made the sacrifice of leaving her young family in order to complete required studies at the Minnesota Campus. In May of 1990, she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and proudly returned home to her family.
Glo was a teacher "par excellence" and never missed an opportunity to hone her skills. In the final stage of her career, she developed a special interest in children who had long stays in the hospital; their education became very important to her. As a result, in December 2007, she accepted the post of Principal of the Hospital School and went on to excel in that field.
Glo's desire to use all the talents that God gave her was not limited to the classroom - it was exhibited in her role as a loving, dedicated, caring and faithful wife and mother and more importantly in her love for God and faithful stewardship to her church. Glo loved the Lord. On September 12, 1982, she and Welly joined New Covenant Baptist Church one week after the church's doors opened. At that time it was located in the Chicken Unlimited building on Mackey Street. She was faithful to her church. A teacher by profession, Glo was immediately drawn to the Sunday school where she would work her way up to become the second person to be elected Sunday school superintendent. She also had a beautiful and melodious voice and loved to sing. As a result she immediately joined the choir and would later be elected President of the Senior Choir. Later, Glo would coordinate the New Covenant Early Learning Centre, join the Executive Council of the church and along with her husband, serve as co-chairman of the Marriage Ministry for four years. She was faithful to all of her assignments!
Some people have green thumbs but Glo had green fingers and toes! She could take a sprig and make it bloom. She was always in her garden - planting and singing to her flowers, the grass and the trees. Her garden is beautiful because of the songs, sun, rain and fertilizer. Her yard won the Yard of the Year Award in 2007 as a result of her gardening skills and creativity. She was a member of the Horticulture Club and the Perky Garden Club.
A TIME TO REAP
Years of dedicated service in the field of Education and faithful stewardship to her church landed Glo many awards. Some of them include:
1991 - Honored for Outstanding and Dedicated Service to the Sunday School of New Covenant Baptist Church.
2000 - honored by the Young Adults Ministry for her dedication and faithfulness.
2001 - Awarded for faithful and dedicated service to the Senior Choir of New Covenant Baptist Church.
2003 - Awarded by the Ministry of Education Primary Principal's Association for long and dedicated service.
2003 - Awarded by The Ministry of Education for special contributions as a writer of indigenous textbooks for the Bahamas.
2004 - Honored by Sunday School of New Covenant for dedication.
March 2010 - Awarded Ministry of Education's Special School Administrators Award for Principals of Hospital Schools
2004 - Along with her husband, she was awarded by Marriage Ministry of New Covenant for being most unselfish couple.
2011 - Honored by Youth Department of New Covenant for outstanding work.
2011 - Honored by The National Baptist Association for longstanding and dedicated service.
1997 - She was named Mother of The Year by her church.
A TIME FOR WAR
There will come a time in all our lives when we have to go to battle for what we hold dear. Glo strongly believed that faith that was not tested could not be trusted. She was therefore ready for the battle of her life. She began to feel peculiarities in her body that told her that something was wrong. She attended physicians locally and abroad and in February 1999, she was diagnosed with lupus. This predator began to nip away at Glo's health. Year after year her body deteriorated. Her struggle to enjoy more well days was great as she was in and out of the hospital. Yet, her faith in God remained steadfast and her spirit grew stronger. Her valiant struggle became a living testimony of unwavering faith. As the years passed, the lupus took its toll and she could no longer do many of the things that she enjoyed. She was no longer able to sing or work in her garden. Her husband and sons formed a triangle of love, support and comfort around her through the painful and sleepless nights. When asked how she was doing, Glo would always declared, "It is well." This was a testimony not to her physical health but to the condition of her immortal soul. Through all the changing seasons of her life, Glo never failed to give God praise.
Left to celebrate her wonderful legacy and exemplary life are Husband: Mr. Wellington Edison Miller; Sons: Terru and Tristan Miller; Adopted Sons: Andre Seymour, Matthew Rolle, Rekeno Johnson, Rashad Thompson, Avard Cargill, Avery Cargill, Keith Thompson and Dwayne Lowers; Adopted Daughter: Jessica Hanna; Daughter-in-Law: Michelle Seymour; Mother: Mrs. Priscilla Jarrett; Sisters: Joy Rahming, June Penn, Christine and Eleanor Jarrett; Brothers: Dennis Jarrett, Joslyn Jarrett Jr., Carl Jarrett; God Children: Lanna Rolle, Alexia Nottage, Aaron Francis, Tiffany Francis, Kayliesha St. Cyr and Ellesha Daniels; Aunts: Leah Rolle and Leona Hepburn; Grandaunt: Lean Stubbs; Uncles: Kemuel Hepburn, Ezra and Wellington Hepburn
Granduncle: J. J. Stubbs; Sisters-in-Law: Grace Jarrett, Panchita, Rosa, Doretha and Erma Miller, Gertrude Pedican and Isadora McQuay; Brothers-in-Law: Vince and Charles Miller, Ernie Pedican, Ralph Adderley, Rudyard Penn and Patrick Rahming.
Nieces: Kimarrah Rahming, Raquel Penn,Leotha Debbie, Charlene. Linda. Paula, Jennifer, Necree, Donna,Jan, Goldie,Cheryl, Danise, Dominic, Demara,Nyoshie, Lynn, Dale, Tanisha and Shenequa; Grandnieces: Merchante Rahming, Trevette, Treva.
Niece-in-Law: Monteria Rahming; Nephews: Udahrae Rahming, Dennis Jr., Jerome, Tyrone, Kirk, Wayde, Ronnie, Edward, Shayne, Oscar, Troy, Brent, Travis, Darren, Theo, Waden, Liston, Alfred Jr., Zendall, Jerry and Allan; Grandnephews: Trevor Jr.
Cousins: Carolyn Hanna ,Malita, Jennifer, Ingrid, Claudia, Denise, Laontyna, Franz and Father Dwight Rolle. Other Relatives: Phipatoya, Lasheca, D'Adron, Garkeno, Indalisha, Dolly, Icelyn, Alphonso, Pastor Kirklyn Smith and the Smith Family; Maudline, Aranah, Iklyn, Mr. Harvey and Mrs. Roselda Woodside and all of the Woodside family; Mr. Carlton and Mary Bowleg; Mr. Zack and Mrs. Sharon Francis and Family; And friends of the family: Mrs. Maedawn Munroe and family; Mrs. Valencia Nottage and Family; Mr. and Mrs. Berkley and Partice Chisolm and family; Mr. and Mrs. Val and Marie Coley, and family, Pastor Willamae Braynen, Mrs. Evangeline Penn and family, Dr. Dionne Dames-Rahming,Mrs. Maltese Davis, Mrs. Nellie Walkes, Mr. and Mrs. Errol Bethel, Mr. and Mrs. Haldor Russell, Mr. John Ford and Family of Inagua, The Adderley Family of Inagua,, Mr. Elon and Shirley Arnette and family, Mr. Peuchler Jean, Mrs. Elicia Richards, Mr. Ronald and Cleomi Sutherland and family, Mr. Harold and Mrs. Carol Dorsette and Family, Lester and Shirley Farrington and Family and Mrs. Katherine Brown and Family. All the Farrington Road Family including: the Dean, Smith, Woodside, Eneas, and Sands Families, Maxine Daxon, Kim Hanna, Mr. Roy and Mrs. Arementhia Hanna, Delores Ferguson, Eloise Mackey, Lucianne Sturrup, Marsha Deveaux, Karen St. Cyr, Patrick and Debbie Johnson, Sherman and Royanna Swann (from Abaco), Clover Pratt, Yvonne Heath, Mary Moxey, Veronica Micklewhite, Sylvia Bethel, Martha Dean, Jacqueline Burrows, Barbara Burrows, Mavis Miller, Dorothy Darville, Tommy and Mizpah Smith and family, Barbara Johnson and Family, Cheryl Minnis and all the other teachers and friends. Church Family: Bishop Simeon and Minister Linda Hall and the entire membership of New Covenant Baptist Church especially the Senior Choir and Sunday School; Mrs. Beverly Beneby and Family, Mrs. Helen Thompson, Ethel Farrington, Sybil Taylor, Tyrone Miller, Whitlen Dorsette, Herbert Cash II, Chris Mullings, and The Sunday School Department.
The Bahamas Olympic Committee, The Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas and all other Sporting Federations and Associations of the Bahamas, all the doctors and nurses on the third and fourth floors of Doctors Hospital, Dr. Kevin Moss, The Perky Garden Club, the Horticulture Garden Club; and others too numerous to mention.
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