Andrew "A.J." Miller
1932-05-23 2020-08-07
On May 23, 1932, the late John and Mary Miller welcomed an early “Baby Boy Miller” into the family in Union Pariah, Louisiana. On August 7, 2020, Deacon Andrew “A.J.” Miller transitioned from labor to reward at the Willow Ridge Nursing Home of Arcadia, Louisiana.
A.J. Miller was educated in Lincoln Pariah in the Mount Harmony community and Lincoln High School. In 1955, Mr. Miller would marry the late Lenora D. “TIGHT Minniefield, to their union two children were born; LaWanda, who would transition in infancy, and Jeffery Lynn Miller, Sr. On April 24, 1982, Mr. Miller would join in marriage to Virginia Faye Lewis. They were happy with their blended family as Faye already had two sons that A.J. or “Juice,” as he would be called by his Lewis in-laws, readily stepped up to help raise. However, two years into their union Faye and “Father Abraham were surprised by the arrival of Andrew Junior Miller, II. They were truly blown away when three years later, they welcomed, Crystal LaCarell Miller.
Deacon Miller was a laborer who believed in hard work. He was a security officer and orderly at Lincoln General Hospital. He was also a transport deriver for Ronnie Ward Automotive, and a truck driver for Griffin Industrial. He did custodial work for the Louisiana Rest Areas a short time, became a go to person for automotive fixes by the members of his church; almost rebuilding many of their vehicles, but A.J. Miller would be well known for his years of work as an independent cement finisher. He took great pride in driving by various buildings and saying, “I laid the concrete for that building.” This was a frequent occurrence in and around the city of Ruston.
Brother Miller loved music and good singing. In his early life, he was a member of the Lincoln Parish Male Chorus and served as Choir President of the Mount Harmony Baptist Church Choir. Also, during his time at Mount Harmony, he was a member of the Deacon Board and served as the Sunday School Superintendent.
In the early 1980’s, Deacon Miller began to read and study more of the Word of God through a family Bible study in the home of Annie Mayfield being taught by cousin-in-law Minister James Calvin Dean. Minister Dean invited A.J. to a little sanctified church in the Ebenezer community where Calvin served as Mission President under the pastorate of Elder Thomas Kennedy. After his visit, he felt at home; this experience would impact he and his wife, Faye, they moved their membership to the Ebenezer Church of God in Christ in October of 1983. At Ebenezer, he served on the Deacon Board; sang in the choir; President of the Usher Board; assisted in the transportation committee and was a faithful participant in the Saturday morning prayer. Brother Miller would continue to grow in the Word and sought diligently for the baptism in the Holy Ghost; becoming acquainted with the works of two spiritual sons of Superintendent Kennedy, Superintendent Charles A. Stevenson, Sr. and Pastor Leonard R. Robertson, that he would travel along with his pastor to hear and tarry for this precious gift; receiving it at the Ruston Temple Church o God in Christ. Ebenezer COGIC and Ruston Temple COGIC merged and became Miracle Temple COGIC in 1996, and Deacon Miller continued to serve in all the same capacities; however, as he developed same problems in his back and legs, he did less, but he remained faithful to prayer especially noonday prayer. He was truly a “Souled Out” man of prayer.
Memories will always be cherished by his wife of 38 wonderful years, Virginia Faye, his sons, Jeffery Lynn Miller (Gloria) of Simsboro, LA; Andrew Junior Miller, II of Houston, TX; one daughter, Crystal LaCarell Miller of Dallas, TX; two bonus sons, Brunardo James “Jody” Lewis of Lulling, TX and Sylvester L. Lewis (Dina) of Lithonia, GA; “Best Niece,” Mary Helen Billings; seventeen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
A.J. Miller was educated in Lincoln Pariah in the Mount Harmony community and Lincoln High School. In 1955, Mr. Miller would marry the late Lenora D. “TIGHT Minniefield, to their union two children were born; LaWanda, who would transition in infancy, and Jeffery Lynn Miller, Sr. On April 24, 1982, Mr. Miller would join in marriage to Virginia Faye Lewis. They were happy with their blended family as Faye already had two sons that A.J. or “Juice,” as he would be called by his Lewis in-laws, readily stepped up to help raise. However, two years into their union Faye and “Father Abraham were surprised by the arrival of Andrew Junior Miller, II. They were truly blown away when three years later, they welcomed, Crystal LaCarell Miller.
Deacon Miller was a laborer who believed in hard work. He was a security officer and orderly at Lincoln General Hospital. He was also a transport deriver for Ronnie Ward Automotive, and a truck driver for Griffin Industrial. He did custodial work for the Louisiana Rest Areas a short time, became a go to person for automotive fixes by the members of his church; almost rebuilding many of their vehicles, but A.J. Miller would be well known for his years of work as an independent cement finisher. He took great pride in driving by various buildings and saying, “I laid the concrete for that building.” This was a frequent occurrence in and around the city of Ruston.
Brother Miller loved music and good singing. In his early life, he was a member of the Lincoln Parish Male Chorus and served as Choir President of the Mount Harmony Baptist Church Choir. Also, during his time at Mount Harmony, he was a member of the Deacon Board and served as the Sunday School Superintendent.
In the early 1980’s, Deacon Miller began to read and study more of the Word of God through a family Bible study in the home of Annie Mayfield being taught by cousin-in-law Minister James Calvin Dean. Minister Dean invited A.J. to a little sanctified church in the Ebenezer community where Calvin served as Mission President under the pastorate of Elder Thomas Kennedy. After his visit, he felt at home; this experience would impact he and his wife, Faye, they moved their membership to the Ebenezer Church of God in Christ in October of 1983. At Ebenezer, he served on the Deacon Board; sang in the choir; President of the Usher Board; assisted in the transportation committee and was a faithful participant in the Saturday morning prayer. Brother Miller would continue to grow in the Word and sought diligently for the baptism in the Holy Ghost; becoming acquainted with the works of two spiritual sons of Superintendent Kennedy, Superintendent Charles A. Stevenson, Sr. and Pastor Leonard R. Robertson, that he would travel along with his pastor to hear and tarry for this precious gift; receiving it at the Ruston Temple Church o God in Christ. Ebenezer COGIC and Ruston Temple COGIC merged and became Miracle Temple COGIC in 1996, and Deacon Miller continued to serve in all the same capacities; however, as he developed same problems in his back and legs, he did less, but he remained faithful to prayer especially noonday prayer. He was truly a “Souled Out” man of prayer.
Memories will always be cherished by his wife of 38 wonderful years, Virginia Faye, his sons, Jeffery Lynn Miller (Gloria) of Simsboro, LA; Andrew Junior Miller, II of Houston, TX; one daughter, Crystal LaCarell Miller of Dallas, TX; two bonus sons, Brunardo James “Jody” Lewis of Lulling, TX and Sylvester L. Lewis (Dina) of Lithonia, GA; “Best Niece,” Mary Helen Billings; seventeen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.