Frances Miller Sigmon

Oct. 3, 1932 - Jan. 21, 2010

Mary Frances Johnson Miller Sigmon passed away Jan. 21, 2010, from lung cancer. She was born Oct. 3, 1932, to Remer Franklin Johnson and Mary Alice Herman Johnson in Hickory, N.C. She was raised in Charlotte and graduated from Harding High School. Following her first marriage to Joseph E. (Gene) Miller Sr., she moved to Fayetteville where she spent more than 40 years.

After raising two sons as a wonderful stay-at-home mom, she received her undergraduate degree in business education from Fayetteville State University where she graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian of her class. She received her graduate degree in business education from East Carolina University where she also graduated with honors.

Frances was a business education teacher at both the high school and collegiate levels and retired from the Fayetteville/Cumberland County public school system. She was very active in her professional organizations. Before retirement, she was active in the North Carolina Association of Educators. After retirement, she served many years on the state executive board and in elected offices for the North Carolina Retired School Personnel, as well as on the executive board and in elected offices for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County and Charlotte/Mecklenburg Retired School Personnel.

Frances was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Statesville. She recently had become a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman, which she adored.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband Charles B. Sigmon, who passed away Jan. 11, 2010. She is survived by her two sons, Joseph E. (Joe) Miller Jr. of Statesville and William H. (Bill) Miller and wife Nancy of Easley, S.C.; two grandsons, Will Miller and wife Morgan of Hickory and Matthew Miller of Charleston, S.C.; a stepdaughter, Elaine S. Nelson, and husband Kenneth of Albemarle; and a stepgranddaughter, Randall Christine Elmo, of Chapel Hill.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Troutman on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Matthew Miller (no relation) officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethel Colony of Mercy, 1675 Bethel Colony Road, Lenoir, N.C., 28645; Urban Harvest Ministries, P.O. Box 26466, Greenville, S.C., 29616; or Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Restoration and Expansion Fund, P.O. Box 308, Troutman, N.C., 28166.

The family would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for all their assistance: Dr. Ruby Grimm and staff; the doctors, nurses and all the caretakers at Iredell Memorial Hospital; the many friends from St. John’s Lutheran Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Landmark Church of God. A very special thank you to the entire staff and volunteers at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville who made a very difficult time more bearable. God bless you all!