OBITUARY: Rev. Carl Lee Miller

Rev. Carl Lee Miller, age 86 of Nashville, Tennessee passed away on September 17, 2024.

He was born on October 21, 1937, to Grace and Carl Miller in Grand Rapids, Michigan, beating his twin brother Clark Bee Miller by a few minutes.

After graduating from Kelloggsville High School in 1955, he graduated from Central Bible University and then Evangel University both in Springfield, Missouri. He earned his master’s degree from Michigan State University in Rehabilitation Counseling.

In 1963, he married the love of his life, his true sweetheart, Ruth Marie Risner in Ft. Madison, Iowa.

Feeling God’s call on his life to pursue ministry, he became an ordained Assemblies of God minister in 1967.

In line with his desire to impact and change lives, Carl served as the Executive Director of Webster Cantrell Hall in Decatur, Illinois, a residential treatment facility for juvenile girls and boys who were wards of the state.

In 1976, he followed his calling to full-time ministry and joined the staff of New Orleans First Assembly of God as the Executive Administrator for the church and associated K-12 school. The years Ruth and Carl served the people in New Orleans were some of their happiest. They were blessed to form lifelong friendships and enjoyed some of the tastiest food anywhere.

In 1989, they moved to Akron, Ohio where he was named Vice President of Emerge Counseling Center. He oversaw the counseling services for ministers and missionaries from around the world. Akron was a wonderful season of life for them as they added more lifelong friends and Carl facilitated meaningful impact and restoration in many many lives.

In 2002, Ruth and Carl moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he served as the Executive Pastor at Winston-Salem First Assembly of God. During his tenure he established and oversaw a comprehensive counseling center serving the community by meeting their everyday needs with grief, addiction, and marriage counseling groups, tutoring services for neighboring students, car repair and maintenance services for single mothers. Some of their best memories were the many trips they planned for the “Legacy” community up and down the East Coast.

Carl retired in 2016, and he and Ruth moved to Nashville, Tennessee to be close to their daughters and their families. This has been the most special season of their 61-year marriage as they’ve been able attend birthday parties, sports games, weddings, baby showers and so much more with their family.

Carl is survived by his sweetheart Ruth; his daughters, Julia Baker (Gordon), Beverly Richardson (Patrick); their grandchildren, Randy Patterson (Megan), Lauren Goodrum (Michael), Colton Baker (Brianna), Olivia Hooper, Neil Richardson, Frances Baker, Clay Richardson and Dylan Hooper. They’ve been blessed to meet each of their great-grandchildren, Harlin, Jolene, Lorelei, Gallagher, and Miller Goodrum, Stella, Ruby, and Georgia Cook, Maxine Patterson, Teagan Pope and Finley Baker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Grace and Carl Miller; his brother and sister-in-law, Josephine and John W. Miller, and his sister-in-law, Lois Miller; his nephew, Johnny Paul Miller; and his niece, Linda Sue Price.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Oak Hill Assembly of God, 5200 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN with funeral services following at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Christ Church Memorial Gardens. https://www.woodbinefuneralhome.com

Pallbearers will be Randolph Patterson, Michael Goodrum, Colton Baker, Neil and Clay Richardson and Dylan Hooper.

Memorials or donations may be made to: The Nashville Rescue Mission and The Assemblies of God World Missions.

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