William J. Miller, 90, passed away on October 15, 2025 at his home in Nashville. The son of Elton and Lola Mae Miller, he was born in Dumont, Iowa. After graduating from Sumner High School, Bill attended Westmar College and United Theological Seminary.
Having a lifelong love of music, Bill sang in a college quartet to fund his tuition. He met the love of his life, Sue Ann Collins, at Westmar College and he serenaded her at their first date at the Valentine’s Dance. Marrying in 1958, they began their life together as he attended seminary and served his first churches in Dayton, Ohio and Davenport, Iowa while also, starting a family. In 1977, Bill moved to Nashville, Tennessee to work in the Section of Stewardship of the General Board of Discipleship. He felt called to return to the local church in 1985 and served congregations in Brentwood, Nashville and Franklin.
Upon retirement, Bill and Sue traveled extensively and enjoyed visiting with family across the country. When at home, Bill served with the UMC Board of Ministry, Community Care Fellowship, UMCOR’s Sager Brown Center, WEUMC’s The Quiet Place and Riverbend Prison Ministry, where he led worship services and counseled with prisoners and mentored ex- inmates. He received the UMC TN Conference’s J. Richard Allison Social Holiness Award for his contribution to this prison ministry. Bill’s love of gardening was seen in the time spent creating and nurturing his beautiful garden.
Bill’s love of family was ever present and the relationships with his daughters and their families was always a great joy to him. His grandchildren described him as compassionate, selfless, always full of life and gratitude, caring, gentle, dedicated, and believing in a better world.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Sue Collins Miller; granddaughter, Holly Marie Leist; parents, Elton and Lola Mae Miller; siblings, Elaine Miller, Leland Miller, Elizabeth Piper, Richard Miller, Robert Miller, Ruth Knop, Beverly Kile, Elton Miller, Jr. and Paul Miller.
He is survived by his daughters, Julie (Tom) Leist and Jennifer (Jeff) Hoffman; grandchildren, Catherine (Josh) Leist Williams, Kristen Leist, Caroline Hoffman, Will Hoffman, and Michael Hoffman; sister, Nancy Anderson; sister-in-law, Lynelle Boyle, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A service will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at West End United Methodist Church, 2200 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203 with visitation starting at 9:30AM and service at 11:00AM. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
Memorial gifts can be made to West End United Methodist Church, 2200 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203; Community Care Fellowship, 511 South 8th Street, Nashville, TN 37206 or simply extend an act of kindness to someone in need.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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