Joan Seigenthaler Miller, who devoted much of her life to caring for the underserved and imprisoned at the Metro Public Health Department, died peacefully at home Friday, September 6 following a long illness. She was 84.
A Nashville native, Joan was born August 28, 1940, the eighth and youngest child of John Lawrence and Mary Brew Seigenthaler. Joan’s beautiful spirit of unconditional giving was shaped within her large, boisterous, welcoming family. A constant in the lives of her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, Joan was at the heart of every family gathering, spending days laughing in the kitchen with her mother and sisters preparing the feast. She poured her love into everything she did, from the ornaments she hand painted at Christmastime to the feathery coconut cakes she baked from scratch for family each year.
Joan extended her singular warmth and compassion to those she served in her career, first as a school teacher and then as an administrator for 33 years at the Metro Public Health Department. At the Health Department, Joan demonstrated a special commitment to Nashvillians whom others often forgot, especially people with special needs, mothers living in poverty, and inmates at the Metro Jail.
Joan was educated at Cathedral School and graduated high school from St. Bernard Academy. She earned a B.S. in education from Siena College in Memphis, TN, followed by study at Peabody College with an emphasis on special education. For several years, Joan taught children at Catholic schools in Nashville and Tullahoma, TN, Steubenville, Ohio and Newport News, VA.
In 1972, Joan accepted a position at the Health Department where she led multiple outreach initiatives for the next three decades. She was first hired as a teacher in the day care program for individuals with severe developmental disabilities and was subsequently named its director. Later responsibilities included serving as Clinic Administrator at the East Public Health Center, Director of the Information and Referral Program, and Director of Jail Health Services. On two separate occasions, Joan was asked to step in and direct the WIC program, a supplemental nutrition program for woman, infants and children. She also served as Acting Director of Nutrition Services while continuing in the position of Assistant Bureau Director of Health Equality, a post she held for 10 years.
It was while working at the Health Department that Joan met Dr. John Miller, a dentist also serving there. They married in January 1980, and she was devoted to him for the remainder of her life. Joan was a primary caregiver for her mother, Mary Brew Seigenthaler, and aunt, Alice Brew, in the years before their deaths. Every Sunday, she would arrive early to their house to prepare a large pancake breakfast for family members who came to visit. This tradition continued for years and allowed generations of the family to remain connected and close. Joan also opened her doors to family and friends every Christmas Eve, making her grandmother’s signature Oyster Stew along with a delicious smorgasbord of traditional Southern dishes.
For many years, and especially following her retirement in 2005, Joan was a faithful volunteer with the Ladies of Charity, dedicating each Saturday to working in their consignment shop, the Stuff Galore Store, and other charitable efforts. A prolific reader, Joan loved literature and participated in several book clubs, most notably the Catholic Colonna Book Club, for which she served as an officer.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Brew Seigenthaler and John Lawrence Seigenthaler, her brothers John, Cornelius and Thomas Seigenthaler, and sisters Ann Seigenthaler Murphy and Evalyne Seigenthaler Pace. In addition to her husband John, she is survived by her brother Robert Seigenthaler and sister Alice Seigenthaler Valiquette and multiple nieces and nephews.
Joan’s family wishes to extend their deepest thanks to her many caregivers and especially her dedicated neighbors and close friends, Linda and Ted Harris.
Joan’s life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian burial on Friday September 13, 2024 at Christ the King Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 12-1 PM with Mass to Follow at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan’s memory can be made to Our Ladies of Charity and Room in the Inn.
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