Ms Antoinette Denise Miller

Antoinette Miller was born on April 8, 1951, in Berkeley, California.  Often called by her middle name, Denise, Antoinette was born five minutes before her twin brother, Anthony Dennis Miller.  She was the fourth of six 

children born to the late Eugene and Glorious Miller.  Antoinette attended school in the Richmond Unified School District and graduated from high school in 1968.  After high school, Antoinette attended a number of local junior colleges.

     Early in her career, she performed administrative and clerical work for several companies in the Bay Area, including the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, California. She was later employed by the Richmond Unified School District, where she worked at various elementary and high schools for many years.  Antoinette always enjoyed working with her hands.  In efforts to take her career in a different direction, she enrolled in the Women’s Alliance Carpenter Apprentice Program, and graduated in 1998.

     Antoinette had two daughters.  Her oldest, Lia Erving McFarland, was often referred to as “Peanuts” as a little girl.  Her youngest daughter, Minnie, whose real name is Glorious Wise, was named after Antoinette’s mother.  She often joked that her mother wouldn’t have let her leave the hospital without doing so. Antoinette raised her family in Richmond, Berkeley, and was living in Oakland when she began her longtime battle with lung and heart disease.  In 1984, she relocated her family to Richmond, California, to be close to family. 

     Her father is credited with inspiring her green thumb.  Antoinette found tremendous joy in caring for her collection of plants.  She also enjoyed playing tennis, jogging around Lake Merritt, baking, planning family events, and she also had a lifelong passion for sewing. Antoinette loved sewing everything from Easter dresses and Halloween costumes, to prom dresses and baby blankets.  An avid music lover, Antoinette enjoyed attending live concerts.  Some of her favorite artists included Frankie Beverly and Maze, Boney James, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston.

     Antoinette was a spiritual seeker and explored a number of religions such as Buddhism and Islam.  She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond, California, where she worshipped for many years serving as the Sunday School Secretary, and as a member of the mission board.  Years later, Antoinette joined the Easter Hill Methodist Church in Richmond, California. 

     Antoinette was preceded in death by her parents Eugene and Glorious Miller; her longtime partner Tyrone Adams;  four siblings, Anthony Miller, David Miller, Eugenia Emerson, and Larry Miller; and son-in-law Samuel McFarland.  Antoinette is survived by her daughters Lia Erving McFarland and Glorious Wise, 6 grandsons, 9 granddaughters, 15 great-grand

children, and a host of nieces and nephews.

     Antoinette passed away on June 21, 2020, and she will truly be missed.

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