Rita Miller
August 12, 2016
Rita Virginia Shackelford Barrett Miller, age 88 of Columbus, MS passed away on August 10, 2016. Services will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Columbus, MS with Bro. Steve Lammons, officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00. Burial will follow at Mt. Vernon Cemetery where five generations of her family are buried with Lowndes Funeral Home directing. Rita Miller was born on October 17, 1927, in New Hope to James Edmond Shackelford and Virginia Lucille Ellis. Her uncle, Dr. Leon Cicero Ellis, attended her birth at the home of her maternal grandparents, William Litle Ellis II and Canzada Duncan. Her paternal grandparents were Clinton Oscar Shackelford and Mary Elizabeth Franks. Rita was descended from at least three pioneer families of east Lowndes County. Rita Miller spent her early life in Lowndes County. Her mother died when Rita was two years old, so her father raised her with the help of his second wife, Virginia Ruth McCrary, and other family members. Rita attended school at New Hope, Franklin Academy, and Lee High School, where she graduated in 1945. In 1946, Rita moved to Vicksburg, where she studied nursing at Vicksburg General Hospital. In Vicksburg, she met and later married Maurice William (Bill) Barrett. Bill served in the Army. He, Rita, and eventually their three children were stationed throughout the east coast and in 1953 they were stationed in Germany. In 1960, Rita and her family moved back to Lowndes County, settling in New Hope on land that once belonged to her Ellis ancestors. Later that decade she began working as a receptionist and bookkeeper for Dr. C. Ray McEwen, a pediatrician. In 1968, she bought her Uncle Leon Ellis’ house and moved into downtown Columbus. In 1977, Rita married George Weedon Miller, and they both retired shortly thereafter. In retirement, Rita continued her lifelong passion for travel and took multiple trips throughout North America and Europe. She was an avid reader, a stamp collector, an obsessive list-maker, a card player, and a family historian. She also had an active church and civic life, holding offices in the Columbus Rose Club and held membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Shuk-ha-ta-tom-a-ha Chapter. While her children were young, she was an active member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. After moving to Columbus in 1968, she was again a member of First Baptist Church. Later, after marrying George Miller, she became a member of First United Methodist Church with him. When she moved to Trinity in 2003, she joined Fairview Baptist Church. Church attendance was always an important part of her life. In 2003, more than a decade after the death of George Miller, Rita moved to Trinity Retirement Center. Even there she remained active. Concerned about the environment, she started a recycling program at the center. Rita also ate lunch monthly with members of the Lee High School Class of 1945. Rita Miller was preceded in death by her first and second husbands; her son – James Albert Barrett; grandson – Robbie Barrett and her son-in-law – Billy Wayne Daffron. She is survived by her two daughters, Suzanne Ellis Barrett Daffron of Columbus, and Elise Barrett Loope (Billy) of Maryville, TN. She is also survived by six grandchildren; Benjamin Eric Daffron, New York City; Barrett Loope of Maryville, TN; Suzanne Jill Daffron O’Bryant (Tim) of Columbus; Benjamin Lee Loope (Melissa) of Maryville, Tn; April Tara Barrett (John) of Milwaukie, OR and Christopher John Barrett of Temple, AZ. In addition, Rita leaves behind three great-grandchildren as well as numerous cousins and friends. Pallbearers are her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are Allen McCrary, Gladys and Vernon Gregory, Ina and Lawrence Walters, Peggy Webb, members of the Lee High School Class of 1945 lunch club, and special family friend Barbara Caldwell and Barbara Conner. Memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Building Fund, 1791 Lake Lowndes Rd, Columbus, MS 39702.
