Billee Miller Mt. Airy, North Carolina Obituary

Billee Miller

<p>Mrs. Billee Prather Miller passed away Saturday, June 5, 2021, at Ridgecrest in Mount Airy. &nbsp;Born July 8, 1929, in Mount Airy, she was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph William and Gertrude Young Prather; her husband of 66 years, Walter James &ldquo;Jim&rdquo; Miller, Jr.; her son, James Thomas Miller; and her sister, Frances Prather Newell.&nbsp; Billee is survived by her son, William &ldquo;Bill&rdquo; Prather Miller (Stephanie) of Greensboro; her grandson, Alexander Prather Miller (fianc&eacute;e, Julia Floreak) of Atlanta, GA; and her granddaughter, Caitlin Miller Burgess (Will) of Falls Church, VA.&nbsp; Billee moved from Mount Airy to Atlanta, GA, in her youth, where she learned to play golf at the legendary East Lake Golf Club before moving back to Surry County.&nbsp; A proud graduate of Mount Airy High School, Billee played on the boy&rsquo;s golf team when there was not a team for girls, before graduating and matriculating at Greensboro College. &nbsp;Later, she would assist with the Mount Airy girl&rsquo;s golf team, bringing her story full circle.&nbsp; Golf was an enduring force in Billee&rsquo;s life until the end. &nbsp;As a teenager, she played in the Women&rsquo;s U.S. Open in Greensboro; paired with the legendary Patty Berg and Louise Suggs. &nbsp;A former president of the North Carolina Women&rsquo;s Golf Association, she won the Mount Airy Country Club Women&rsquo;s Golf Championship three consecutive times, retiring the trophy. &nbsp;She recorded five holes-in-one during her lifetime.&nbsp; In 1950, Billee married Jim, first residing in Charlotte before settling in Mount Airy soon afterward. &nbsp;Together they raised their sons and shared a love of church, golf, and Duke University sports with their extended family.&nbsp; Family was everything to Billee. &nbsp;When her oldest son, Jimmy, suffered a serious injury at age 18 that resulted in paralysis, she and Jim redirected their lives to aid his quest to lead a normal, vigorous life. &nbsp;He would become the first paraplegic graduate of Duke University, and she became the forever &ldquo;Mom&rdquo; to Jimmy and Bill&rsquo;s Duke fraternity brothers.&nbsp; A devoted member of Central United Methodist Church her entire adult life, Billee was an active participant in worship and church activities. &nbsp;She was a Stephen minister and believed strongly in visitation and service to shut-ins and all in need. &nbsp;Anyone who knew Billee appreciated not only her visits, but the cheese straws, pound cakes, or cookies that she always provided. &nbsp;There were countless acts of kindness that went unrecognized because that&rsquo;s the way she always operated.&nbsp; As good of a mother as she was, Billee was an even better grandmother. &nbsp;Alex and Cait learned to golf, garden, bake, play ping-pong, and hunt for Easter eggs under her constant tutelage. &nbsp;They adored her. &nbsp;There can be no greater legacy than that.&nbsp; The family wishes to thank the staff, nurses, and caretakers at Ridgecrest and Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care for their loving care. &nbsp;Billee felt their love and support until the very end.&nbsp; A memorial service will be held Monday, June 14, 2021, at 10:30 AM at Central United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Danny Miller officiating. &nbsp;A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 until 10:30 AM. &nbsp;Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery.&nbsp; In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Central United Methodist Church, 1909 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC &nbsp;27030; or Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 401, Mount Airy, NC &nbsp;27030.&nbsp; Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family.</p>
July 8, 1929 - June 5, 202107/08/192906/05/2021
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