Coretha Ellen Harcum-Miller

On Wednesday July 20, 2005 God came quietly, wrapped His loving arms around our beloved, closed her eyes and gently carried her home to Heaven where she exchanged time for eternity. Life is God's gift. What you make of it is your gift to God. CORETHA ELLEN HARCUM MILLER was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 22, 1903. She was educated in the Baltimore City School System. She dedicated her life to Christ at an early age as her Christian journey began at Allen A.M.E. Church on Lexington Street. She moved her membership to Emmanuel Christian Community Church where she sang on the choir. She later joined Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church. However, her profound love of God led her to also worship and fellowship at Reverend Green's Church on Franklintown Road. As a golden senior she returned to Emmanuel Christian Community Church with her daughter, Lorraine to worship and fellowship, singing God's praises. In the spring of her life she met and was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Leroy Miller. From this union her beautiful daughters Cora Louise and Lorraine Coretha were born and raised in a loving Christian environment. Coretha, as an industrious and productive housewife, turned homemaking into a profitable artform long before B. Smith and Martha Stewart became media domestic icons. She enjoyed the Holidays and joyous family gatherings and all were welcome to enjoy her coconut layer cakes and "genuine" apple or lemon meringue pies. She loved singing and playing the piano. These talents were absorbed from her enormous zest for life and inherited by her daughters. Born to be a leader she founded the "Follow Me Thrift Club" (which most Christmas Clubs were fashioned after) to happily save for the holidays. Many pig feet, fried chicken and fish dinners were sold. Her club members, family and friends followed her on many bus trips, also to Atlantic City. "Mama Reefie" as she was affectionately known, was followed all over Baltimore by her two granddaughters Joyce Cecelia and Brenda Michele. They visited the sick and shut-in on the way downtown. Many beautiful memories were formed and filed away as they rode home from their adventures on the trolley car. Her commitment to serve was also demonstrated in her many years of membership in the Estella S. Grant Chapter #5, of the Eastern Star. During her active tenure, she was elected a past Worthy Matron and Queen of the South. Her life was full but her blessings increased in 1970 with the birth of her great-granddaughter Rosilyn Angelique. Coretha was a Baltimore City icon and was known to frequent all the major landmarks. She was a member of the Waxter Senior Center and participated in their talent shows and road trips and eating together program. She had a compassionate nature. Everyday her daughter Lorraine prepared her a cooler with a breakfast and lunch to eat on the go which she shared with her friends at the Lexington Market. She was present for the grand opening of the Harbor Place. She could be found under the Big Clock snacking on a Phillip's crabcake. She liked to get on the Eyre's Bus and ride around with the tourists. She was careful to always be home early. She lived a long and blessed life and her outreach was known far and wide and she never met a stranger. "Alleluia. Amen." Mom leaves a treasury of memories stored away by her loving and devoted daughters, Cora Louise Miller Dungee and Lorraine Coretha Miller; her beloved grand- and great-granddaugthers, Joyce Cecelia Dungee, Brenda Michele Dungee Rideout and Rosilyn Angelique Richardson; her son-in-law, John M. Dungee; also many nieces, nephews, a host of family, extended family and friends near and far.

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Coretha Ellen Harcum-Miller

November 22, 1903 - July 20, 2005