Rev. John Avery Miller

The Life of Reverend John Avery Miller A Time to Be Born… Pastor John Avery Miller was born on July 6, 1951 in Accomack County, Virginia to John and Beatrice Miller. He was affectionately called “John Avery” by his family. A Time to Learn… John was educated in the Accomack County Public School System, and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. A Time to Harvest… Before being called into the ministry, he was employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a Parole Officer for many years. A Time for Love… John married the love of this life, Eileen Roberta Morgan in 1990 and they were blessed to share five children between them. A Time for Joy… John loved to laugh and to “cut up”. He enjoyed cooking and watching people eat his cooking. He loved spending time with his family and having “garage talks” with his neighbors, Robert (Bob) and Anne Jewell. A Time for Faith… He accepted Jesus at a young age, attended church and was brought up knowing the Lord. John’s love for the Lord motivated him to earn a Master’s degree from Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. As a long time faithful servant in the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, he was a three-time recipient of the Denman Evangelism Award. On one particular occasion, before delivering God’s Word to an anticipative congregation, his late wife Eileen introduced her husband as one who can kick up dust on a muddy road. Other accolades include receiving the Circuit Rider Award twice, and the Town and Country Preacher Award. One of his greatest honors was accepting the Bishops’ request to deliver a sermon at one of the Virginia Annual Conferences. For over thirty years, he served several churches throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. After retiring as Pastor from Pleasant View United Methodist Church in Waynesboro, he worshipped and served at Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. A Time to Die… John departed this life on August 12, 2015, with his daughter by his side. A Time to Mourn… Precious relatives who preceded John in death were his father John Augusta Miller; grandmother, Vilinia Brown (affectionately called “Nana”); wife, Eileen Roberta Morgan Miller; and son, Sarif Stewart. Besides his loving mother, Beatrice Miller, memories will be shared by his devoted daughter, Jonilla Dargan (Shadrick); sons, Jamar Stewart (Debra) and John Dickerson; daughter, Tia Stewart; a sister, Odessa Downing (Larry); brothers, Rev. Gary Miller (Tampa) and Connell Lankford (Renee); seven grandchildren: Malik, Anya, Sarif Jr., Cheyenne, Ja’Marquise, Quory, and Drue. He also leaves an abundance of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, in-laws and a multitude of friends

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Rev. John Avery Miller

July 6, 1951 - August 12, 2015