Obituary of Betty Murray Miller

Betty Murray Miller, 86, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2020. Born in Marion, NC, she was a daughter of the late Fred Murray and Rena England Murray. Mrs. Miller was the mother of two children, Darlene Rikard and the late Derrell Miller. She is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Bill Miller. Mrs. Miller was grandmother of four grandchildren: Ashley Miller, Miri Miller, Ross Rikard, and Evan Rikard, and three great-grandchildren, Taylor, Rodney, and Asher. She is survived by her sister, Thurlene Hogan and brother, Norris Murray of North Carolina. She is predeceased by her oldest brother, Harold Murray of Ohio.

Mrs. Miller spent her life in service to her family, others, and to her Lord. She was a former long-term member of Suber-Marshall Memorial United Methodist Church. In her fifty years as a choir member there, she sang faithfully and beautifully, also serving as choir director for a number of years. Her love of music stayed with her throughout her lifetime. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, along with serving on numerous committees and serving various mission projects. After observing a need for community and fellowship within the elderly community, she established a program wherein these adults came together for meals, activities, and companionship.  Mrs. Miller’s initial experience with Walk to Emmaus, led her to becoming an active member of the Midlands chapter, encouraging and sponsoring others, subsequently bringing them closer to Christ. She extended this service into prison ministry by working with Kairos, an extended program of Walk to Emmaus for prisoners. After moving to Lake Wateree, she became a member of Smyrna United Methodist Church where she and her husband founded Vickie’s Kitchen, a ministry to provide meals and food to those in need. Betty, along with Bill, also supported prison ministry by providing meals and church services. She was a current member of St. John’s United Methodist Church. Although she could no longer serve in a physical capacity, she continued to financially support on-going ministries. Supporting charitable ministries both financially and/or physically was her mission in Christ. Verse 4 from her favorite hymn, Others, sums up her life. “And when my work on earth is done, and my new work in heaven’s begun, may I forget the crown I’ve won, while thinking still of Others.” Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Ross Rikard Memorial Endowment Fund which supports at-risk youth. (The SC United Methodist Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 5087 Columbia, SC 29250-5087)

The family will hold a private ceremony.