Ann Miller: Generous Hospitality

 

Bethel Town Baptist Church

The old Bethel Town Baptist Mission House

Ann Miller

In 1906, Ann Elizabeth Miller arrived in Jamaica with her husband, Alfred, whom the [British] Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) had designated a missionary to the country. She partnered her husband in ministry in the circuits that he served as minister: Balaclava/Elderslie, Bethel Town, Bethtephil and finally in the First (now Burchell Memorial) Baptist Church, Montego Bay.  

 

Mr & Mrs Alfred Miller had a large family comprising five daughters – Vera Maud (d. 1960), Edna, Sylvia, Alice and Grace, and four sons – Cleveland, Ira, Aubrey and Bertram. The Millers were shaken by the passing of Alice in 1935 and of Vera Maud in April 1960. Brothers Ira and Aubrey migrated to the United States where they established families.

 

Mrs Miller’s partnership with her husband is reflected in the sentiments expressed by the churches when they convened farewell services for their pastor and his wife. Let’s take two examples. In February 26, 1924, before presenting a gift to Mrs Miller, Mr. T. T. Miles, the spokesperson on behalf of the Balaclava circuit praised the pastor for his service to the circuit and then added the following:

 

We could not venture to close this short address without showing a mark of high appreciation to Mrs Miller also. Your ministry among us would he less  materially had it not been for her warm and loving cooperation. She took a very lively interest in every whit of the work here and whenever there was an opportunity would always be found weeping o’er the erring one, lifting up the fallen and caring for the dying.

 

The Gleaner published a report on the farewell event for the Millers at Bethel Town on November 2, 1930, which included the following:

 

After the morning service … an address was read by Mrs H. Davis, Secretary of the JBWF. A folding writing table made of mahogany was then presented to Mr Miller. This was followed by another address from the church to Mrs Miller and the presentation of a purse. Both the pastor and his wife responded very feelingly.

 

In May 1921, when the League for the Study of the Prophets met for their annual conference in Brown’s Town, Mrs. Ann Miller was one of the presenters. Her topic was,

“The safety of those who by faith in God will escape the judgments to come.”

 

When Mrs. Frances Kirkham proposed a meeting for the formation of the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation (JBWF), the Millers who had commodious facilities at Bethel Town kindly offered to host the meeting, even though it was to take place so close to Christmas. When the guests arrived, they were were treated with characteristic hospitality. Not surprisingly, the women attending the meeting chose Mrs Miller as JBWF First Vice President.