Linda Coker Miller, 81, became an angel on Friday, March 31, 2023, at home surrounded by her family. She was the loving and devoted wife of William (Bill) Otis Miller, Jr. with whom she had 60 adventurous years of marriage during which she shared her undying support, loyalty, and love.
Born in Vicksburg, she was the daughter of Anna Simmons Merritt and Hugh B. Coker. A lifelong resident (except for the years in New Orleans with her parents, and as an army wife at Ft. Hood, TX, Ft. Benning, GA, and those fun years in Albuquerque, NM), Linda was a member of the first graduating class from Cooper High School. She went south for college where she earned her undergrad degree from Southern Miss; and later achieved her graduate degree from Mississippi College. She performed miracles working in Vicksburg Warren Schools for 30 years teaching at Jett, Warrenton, and South Park Elementary Schools.
She was a member of Hawkins UMC where she always enjoyed Bible Study, potlucks, and the Christmas Cantatas. She also enjoyed keeping up with the Abbotts, Hortons, and Kiriakises on her soap operas. When she wasn’t enjoying soaps, she loved spending time on the beach with her beloved Ya-Ya’s, or shopping with friends on the biggest teacher “sick day” of the year at the Canton Flea Market. She will always be treasured for teaching her granddaughters how to make countless batches of divinity, party mix, and homemade brown gravy, putting up millions of bushels of peas, beans, and ears of corn, and traveling across America seeking the next adventure. Most importantly, she will always be loved for being the absolute best wife, Mama, and Mim to ever set foot on this planet.
She is survived by husband, Bill, son Bart (Tanya) Miller, daughter Becky (Steve) Verner, and granddaughters, Kristen Miller (Wyndham) Burney, Annabeth Miller, and Riley Verner. She is also survived by her brother, Ronnie (Lottie) Merritt.
Visitation will be held at Fisher Riles Funeral Home on Indiana Ave. on Sunday, April 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. followed by funeral service at 3 pm. Interment will take place at Greenlawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Steve Verner, Wyndham Burney, Jordan Chamberlin, Ronnie Merritt, Randy Brassfield and Rusty Edwards.
The family would like to add extended gratitude to the hospice care team, Compassus, and home health team, Home Instead for all their love and support these last few months.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, The Vicksburg Warren Humane Society, Compassus Hospice and Hawkins United Methodist Church.