Susan Perkins Miller

SUSAN PERKINS MILLER, 87, of Little Rock passed away on May 27, 2013. She was a member of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church where she actively served in many ministries most recently serving as a church Elder. She was born in Little Rock to Ray Holmes Perkins and Edmonia Lawson Perkins on Sept. 18, 1925, attended Rightsell Elementary School, and graduated from Little Rock High School in May of 1943. She attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in June of 1945. She was married in Jan. 21, 1950, to John Fletcher Miller and the couple had three children, Margaret (1951), David (1952), and Carlton (1957). After her husband's death in 1965, she became a seventh-grade Science teacher and taught at Henderson Junior High School for three decades. Her classroom was always filled with the posters, projects, reports, jars containing insects or frogs, and interesting rocks, driftwood, or plants collected by her students. She would award extra credit points for students who would bring a live tarantula to class which after observation and study were released in the yard at the family home. Susan was a community leader, and was active in local and national politics. She was a member of the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools in the late 1950ʼs that worked to re-open Little Rock high schools that had been closed to prevent their integration. She was also active in the National Democratic Party, the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters, National Education Association, and the Arkansas Classroom Teachers Association where she served on the curriculum guidance committee. She and her husband were instrumental in founding the Arkansas chapter of the American Field Service chartered to bring international visitors to Arkansas to interact with local families and business leaders. They often hosted these visitors in their home, introduced them to friends and business associates, and invited them to attend services at their Church. She served as a member of the Arkansas State Judiciary Committee, and was the first non-attorney and one of the first women to serve in this capacity. She was active in her children's organizations such as school committees, Scouts, YMCA, YWCA, and PTA. Susan was an avid collector of antiques: furniture, glassware, political buttons, sheet music, crockery, signs, and advertisements. She enjoyed gardening and working in her flower beds. This work was not limited to just the plants and grounds as she personally laid all the antique bricks for the patios, porch, driveway, walls and sidewalk. She loved holiday decorating and was always involved in making centerpieces, wreathes, and arrangements for events and parties. Susan is preceded in death by her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Perkins; and her husband, John Fletcher Miller. She is survived by her children, Margaret Miller, David Miller (Natalie), and Carlton Miller Mohl (Larry), as well as her grandchildren Lawson Mohl, Erden Mohl, Alex Miller, and Eric Hawkins. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, 11 a.m., June 5, at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, 6400 Kavanaugh Blvd, followed by a reception at the church. Contributions can be made in her name to the Westover Hills Presbyterian Church Building Fund. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and leadership of Presbyterian Village for all the love and care extended to Susan during the time she spent there. Please visit www.cremationsofarkansas.com to sign the online guest register.