John Miller

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." 2nd Timothy: Verses 6 and 7 (KJV) On Thursday, September 2, 2021, John Miller quietly and peacefully transitioned from this earthly realm to his heavenly home to reap the rewards of God’s promise. John was born in Chesterfield, South Carolina on February 24, 1935, to Sarah Miller and Milton Peques. He and his mother moved to Washington, D.C. when he was five years old. He was educated in the District of Columbia Public School System. If we were to look in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary for a definition for John Miller, it would surely read, “a hardworking, family-focused son, husband and father who was an excellent provider in every sense of the word.” John was a caring son. He started doing odd jobs as a young boy to help his mother supplement her income. He often told the story of taking a job doing back-breaking yardwork that lasted most of the day for which he was paid only five dollars. He was disappointed but learned a valuable lesson. He learned to make his deal upfront and to know his worth. It was a lesson he never forgot. John saw that his mother continued to struggle to support them, so he left high school before graduating and joined the United States Army. This allowed him to take care of himself and allowed him to send money home to help his mother and his siblings. He was honorably discharged from the U. S. Army in September 1957. He later went back to school to continue his education. John was a loving husband and father. He met, fell in love with, and later married Ethel Lee Barnes on May 29, 1960. They were blessed with two daughters, Cheryl and Judith. Again, he worked hard to provide for his family. He worked at George Washington Hospital, plus worked two part-time jobs, all at the same time. He joined Giant Bakery in 1962 as a baker. His strong work ethic paid off, as he was given the Number One Baker Award. He joined the Baker’s Union to make sure his voice was heard concerning labor matters. He retired in 1997 after 35 years of service. He was a faithful member of National Church of God in Fort Washington, Maryland. He attended services until his failing health made it impossible to do so. He then turned to television ministries for spiritual sustenance. Though his body was weak, his faith remained strong. John was serious about his exercise regimen and understood the importance of taking care of his body. He knew that his body was a temple in which the Holy Spirit dwelled. For many years, he went to the gym daily. When he stopped going to the gym, he took daily walks around his neighborhood. His family can only imagine his joyous, heavenly reunion with his family and friends. And, once he has visited with them for a while, he will probably ask “which way to the gym?” His siblings and his cousins looked up to him and often sought his help. They respected his wisdom, guidance, counsel and support. He was their “go to” guy. John was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah Miller; his father, Milton Peques; his brother, George “Rudy” Miller; his sister, Gladys Pegues-Edwards; his daughter, Cheryl O. Mitchell; and his son-in-law, Terry Mitchell. He leaves to cherish his memory and benefit from his legacy: his wife, Ethel L. Miller; his daughter, Judith C. Miller; his granddaughter, Angela Callahan, all of Clinton, MD; his sisters, Jeanette Miller of Washington, DC and Diccie Jackson and her husband Howard of Maryland; his other brothers-in-law, Ed Edwards of Clinton, MD and Freddie Barnes of Scotland Neck, NC; his sisters-in-law, Ernestine Ware, Launice Owens, Elsie Barnes, all of Scotland Neck, NC; Streata Yarborough (Raymond) of Lanham, MD; two nieces Althena Miller and Yvette Miller both of Virginia; many cousins, other relatives and friends. John’s family and friends will miss him in this earthly realm, but as believers, we know there is the promise of a sweet reunion in heaven that is everlasting. Thomas Moore said it best. “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” Mr. Miller's family will receive guests on Saturday, September 25 at Lee Funeral Home, 6633 Old Alexandria Ferry Road, Clinton, MD 20735 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., with a memorial service immediately following at 12 p.m. in the Lee Funeral Home Chapel. John will claim his honorable place of repose in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia at later date. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Miller please visit our Sympathy Store.