"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : DR. JOHN TILDON MILLER - CO-FOUNDER OF THE HISTORIC MILLER-ROY BUILDING

Today, while many Black People in Monroe, Louisiana have heard about the Miller-Roy Building that was built across from the Old Monroe City Cemetery in 1929, near the meeting hall of The Local Chapter of "The Colored Knights of Pythias," as a safe meeting place to house Black Businesses, few Black People in Monroe know that one of the founders of the building, John T. Miller, had a wife named Martha Gair Miller, who died on September 19, 1932, following an operation at the clinic in which they owned together that was located in the Miller-Roy Building. For the record, Martha and John had 3 children ; a son name John Gair Miller, and 2 daughters, Harriet F. Miller, and Beatrice M. Miller. Sadly, Beatrice died on December 30, 1934, at the tender age of 7. Without a doubt, the sudden deaths of his wife and adorable young daughter happening so close together took an extreme toll on John, being that he died of heart failure on July 5, 1935. Looking back, who would of imagined that within that short 3 year period of time that death would come calling so frequently on this family? Interestingly, all three of their funerals were held at Martin Temple Christian Methodist Church that was located near North 19th & Adams Street in Monroe, Louisiana, and they were all buried at the Monroe City Cemetery, located on Desiard Street. Well, I couldn't find much information about Dr. John Tildon Miller, however, I did find out that he was born in Lexington, Mississippi, in 1879 to John H. Miller and Mrs Frances Golden Miller. Also, John and Martha Miller were Charter Members of the local NAACP Chapter in Monroe. Additionally, John Tildon Miller was listed in The 1930 Book Publication of "WHO'S WHO in COLORED LOUISIANA," which was published by The Douglas Loan Company of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to admonish all Black residents living in Monroe and Ouachita Parish to do their best to past down to our Black Children as much of the local Black History as they can, so that our Black Children will know more about"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE," than they know about sports and video games!