Joyce (Hazel) Varnado Miller

Joyce (Hazel) Varnado Miller, 97, stepped peacefully into Heaven on September 23, 2024, just one day before her 75th wedding anniversary. The daughter of Georgina McCormick Varnado and Merrill Varnado, Joyce was born July 1, 1927 in Starkville, Mississippi. Her mother passed away when Joyce was just nine years old, and her father remarried two years later. Shortly thereafter, at the age of 13, Joyce was sent to live with her maternal aunt Gladys Robertson and her husband Bob in McComb, Mississippi. She graduated from McComb High School and then attended MSCW. In 1949 Joyce completed her degree in chemistry and moved with her aunt and uncle to Jackson, where she met Bob Miller on a blind date. They were married 10 weeks later and spent 58 years together until Bob’s death in 2007.

Joyce was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church, where she taught Vacation Bible School and children’s Sunday School along with attending Circle and other Bible studies. She was also a member of, and frequent officer for, Le Dejeuner (luncheon club) where she had many friends. Hazel, as she was known to her closest friends, was famous for 40 years of Christmas afternoon parties. She was an avid bridge player, an accomplished seamstress, and prolific cross stitcher. She was also a very clever poet, writing unique poems for special occasions. One of her main joys in life was ensuring that her daughter Susan had a wonderful childhood.

In 2009, 2 years after Bob’s death, Joyce moved to Kirby Pines Retirement Community in Memphis, Tennessee, where she lived for the next 15 years. She immediately immersed herself in the activities there and made many new friends. She coordinated the bi-weekly bridge game for several years and even learned to play mah jong. She loved it so much that she gave up bridge for the twice weekly mah jong games.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. Miller, Jr, her sister Doris, and the 3 maternal aunts who cared for her after her mother’s death: Gladys Robertson, Katharine McCormick, and Edwina Harper. She is survived by her daughter Susan Miller Barnes and her husband Jim.

Susan and Jim would like to thank the caregivers and staff at Senior Helpers who helped take care of Joyce for the past 2 years, especially Melissa, Keke S., Nolia, Brittany, Robia, and April. Thanks also to Erica and Keke W. with Crossroads Hospice who tenderly ministered to Joyce during the last few weeks of her life.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5th, at the Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, Mississippi. A celebration of her life will follow at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Living Hope Church, 345 Keough Dr, Piperton, TN, 38017, St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, or the charity of your choice.