Jewell L. Miller

Life’s Journey

Jewell L. Miller

Her life reflected quiet beauty and enduring strength graceful as a rose in full bloom. With unwavering devotion, she poured love into everything and everyone she touched, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, faith, and gentle Southern elegance.

Each chapter of her life was a gift—given freely, given fully—until her final breath, when the last petal fell. Though she is no longer with us in body, her spirit blossoms anew in eternal peace, blooming brightly in fields of heavenly glory that never fade.

Jewell L. Miller was born on June 5, 1932, in Swainsboro, Georgia, to her loving parents, Friendly Greene and Susie Mae Hopper Greene. She was one of 14 children. Jewell grew up alongside her cherished siblings: Charles, Lillie, Rendy, James, Freddie, Friendly Jr., Simeon (Georgie), Susie Mae, Violet, Sereda (John), Ivery, Henry (Hope), Benjamin (Tessa) Rudolph (Delores), and Brunell (John).

As a young girl, Jewell had a spirited nature and a sharp mind. She loved playing basketball and treasured the special bond she shared with her father, often traveling with him and assisting with his business dealings—an early sign of the grace, poise, and efficiency that would guide her throughout life.

Jewell graduated from Swainsboro High School in 1950, where she started on a path of a life anchored in faith, family, and service to others.

On October 16, 1952, Jewell L. Greene married the love of her life, Jacob Miller, in Savannah, Georgia. Their love story began just weeks earlier on Labor Day, September 7, 1952, when by divine intervention at a bus station in Washington, D.C. Jewell was traveling to visit her sister in Delaware after graduating from high school, and Jacob was headed home to Savannah. Their attraction was instant and undeniable. After a brief engagement, they exchanged vows and began a union that would last a remarkable seventy-two years. To this loving marriage were born four children: sons Jacob and Jon, and daughters Jacquelyn and Joan. Jewell was a devoted wife and mother whose greatest pride was in the care, guidance, and nurturing of her family. She poured her heart into her home, and together they shared many joyful and cherished moments.

Jewell’s love only grew as her family expanded. She was later blessed with twenty grandchildren—Melinda, Joseph, Maria-Louise, Jovan, Jared, Jasmine, Nicholas, Genevieve, Jacque, Kyle, Kiely, Bonnie, Kevin, Amy, Kathleen, Ethan, David, Darrell Julius (DJ), Dorian, and Darnell. Her legacy continued with seventeen great-grandchildren, who were equally blessed in the warmth of her love.

After raising four children as a dedicated stay-at-home mother, she became a childcare provider —earning her the beloved nickname “Momma Jewell.” Her nurturing spirit and natural warmth made every child feel right at home.

Once all her own children were in school, Jewell found joy working at the local bowling alley, where she could stay close to a pastime she genuinely loved. Bowling was one of her favorite hobbies, in addition to gardening, church activities and spending time with her friends. Jewell continued to support her family through various roles. She worked in retail and banking for 12 years. Though she appreciated her work and the people she met along the way, Jewell’s greatest joy always came from caring for her family.

A devoted woman of faith, Jewell was a proud member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for over forty-five years. She believed deeply in the power of prayer and the importance of maintaining a true relationship with the Lord. Jewell carried herself with grace and elegance, always taking pride in her appearance. She was especially known for her elegant church hats and her polished style—never one to miss an opportunity to present her best self before God and others. Long before Diva was popular, Jewell was a true Southern Diva with a touch of flair. Friends and family often smiled, saying, “She never missed a chance to dress for church.”

Jewell was a vibrant, fun-loving woman who deeply cherished the people in her life. Whether near or far, she found joy in traveling—both across the country and abroad—always sharing laughter and making memories with family and friends along the way.

She held her friendships close to her heart and maintained lifelong bonds with those who brought joy to her life’s journey, including Desi Mae, Odessa, Sister Holiman, Sister Cordelia Revels, Katherine “Kitty” Davis, and Sylvia Rogers, all of whom preceded her in death. Jewell’s closest friends and love ones includes, Levy Scott, Dr Faye Rison, Elaine Eddens, Myron Nealey, Leanne Sprigg, and Becky Sexton. Her “adopted” daughters—Pamela Richardson, Sondra Scott, and Beverly Cisse—were also dear to her, offering love, support, and companionship through the years.

Her faithful friends, Ilona Dorsey and Sandra Fields, held a special place in Jewell’s life. The three of them could be found every week enjoying Christian fellowship, playing games of dominoes, Uno, sharing laughter, and comfort until the very end.

Despite the deep loneliness Jewell felt after the passing of her beloved husband, Jacob, on November 12, 2024, her family finds comfort in knowing that they will be reunited.

Jewell will be dearly missed by all who had the blessing of knowing her. To know Jewell was to love her.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jacob Miller, her parents and siblings, Freddie, Rev. Charles, Rev. James, Freddy Jr., Rendy, Lily, and Susie Mae.

Jewell L. Miller departed this life to the embrace of the Lord on May 11, 2025, in Parker, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include 2 sons, Jacob (Patricia) Miller and Jon L. Miller; 2 daughters, Jacquelyn Y. Miller (David G. Harris) and Joan Y. (Donald) Thorne; siblings, Violet, Sereda (John), Ivery, Henry (Hope), Simeon (Georgie), Randolph (Delores), and Burnell (John); 17 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.