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Massachusetts Peace Action fondly remembers Jean Miller, devoted peace activist and colleague. Phyllis Jean (Jackson) Miller, 80 of Boston, died peacefully surrounded by family, on Thursday, January 25, 2018 in Boston, MA after a short struggle against cancer. She was born December 30, 1937 in Enterprise, Kansas to the late Peter Apollo Jackson and Alma (Landrum) Jackson. She was the youngest of nine siblings, spent her childhood on the family farm, taught herself to read by age four, and attended the local one-room schoolhouse and Chapman High. “Jean” as she was known received her B.Sc. in Early Education at Kansas University in 1958. She taught kindergarten and attended Colgate Rochester Divinity School where she met and married John Ulman Miller. They moved to Boston and started the Community Education Center, nicknamed Snicker-Snack, in Franklin, MA, offering early childhood education and after school programs. Jean was known for standing up for her beliefs, including civil rights, the environment, peace and social justice. She fought and defeated the “no pants for girls” dress code at Maurice J. Tobin School in Roxbury where her children attended school. She advocated for active recess for children in lieu of forming perfectly straight lines before being allowed to play. She was an early supporter of racial desegregation in Boston Public Schools throughout the tumultuous years of busing. Eventually the family moved to Franklin, MA and Jean continued as Education Director of Snicker-Snack School. After her divorce she worked at Serenity Hill Nursing Home as a nurse’s aide, activities director, and chaplain after finally receiving her Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester. During this time Jean, known as “NanaMommy,” helped raise her ever-expanding progeny of granddaughters, and continued to do so upon retirement in 2001. This included traveling the world to places like Armenia, France, Sweden, Yemen, and Rwanda. Jean could turn ordinary materials into extraordinary creations: sock puppets, hats, costumes, wedding attire, all meticulously sewn and crafted with love. She sang, played piano, violin, and baritone ukulele, and composed original works, most recently using Garageband. She was a prolific and talented writer and poet, gifting her writings to many. She recorded poignant, often humorous, journal entries daily for over 60 years, including her last day. At age 50 Jean ran the Boston Peace Marathon. Her activism for peace and social justice continued with many groups including First Church in Cambridge, the Just Peace Players, WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom), and the Raging Grannies, and she could often be spotted at the State House advocating for issues she believed in. Jean lived a healthy and active life with the greatest respect for the environment we all share. Lover of yoga, a devoted vegetarian, supporter of local organic farming, Jean enjoyed eighty healthy years on this precious earth. Her brilliant intellect and sharp wit were with her to the end. Her 97 pound, 4 foot 11 frame and understated nature belied her inner strength and convictions. She was not to be underestimated and her legacy is expansive. She touched many lives in genuine and profound ways, and is a role model for many. Jean is survived by her three loving daughters, Marie-Louise Miller (Richard Sutherland), Jeanne Miller (Timothy O’Brien), and Kaia Miller Goldstein (Jonathan Goldstein), and eight granddaughters: Casey Neumann (Danny Arroniz), Sara Tess Neumann, Paige Neumann (Andrew Wilkins), Meghan O’Brien, Emily Kate O’Brien, Abigail O’Brien, Annika Goldstein and Skylar Goldstein. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 11:00am at First Church in Cambridge Congregational, UCC, 11 Garden St., Cambridge, MA, followed by a reception and reading of Jean’s poems in Margaret Jewett Hall. Donations may be made in Jean’s honor to First Church in Cambridge or to another charity of choice. |