Dr. Sharee Sanders Miller

Dr. Sharee Sanders Miller, 66, passed over into heaven on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at her home after a lengthy and valiant battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and finally leukemia. Her trademark smile that was a gift she freely gave to everyone she met throughout her entire life will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Sharee loved learning and teaching. She graduated in the 1970 class of Brainerd High School, earning her education degree from UT-Chattanooga, and her Master of Education degree and Doctorate of Education degree from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.

She was the co-founder and Director of Education of The Honors Learning Center, the first learning center in Tennessee to receive CITA and SACS state accreditation. Sharee played a primary role in the academic success of thousands of tri-state students.

Sharee taught grades 1-6, primarily in inner-city schools, in the Chattanooga City and Hamilton County School system for 31 years She then moved to the Dade County Georgia school system, teaching 6th grade language arts at Dade County Middle School for 13 years. As a life-long educator she was dedicated to her students and respected by her co-workers, knowing her influence in their lives made a difference.

She participated in the First Leadership Fellowship cohort group of the Public Education’s Leadership Development Institute in 1999-2000. She was a Tennessee Career Ladder Level III educator. While never teaching at Howard, but teaching many students during their elementary school years, Sharee was selected by honors graduates of Howard High School to attend the Hamilton County Honors Banquet as “A Teacher Who Made A Difference”.

Sharee was a member of numerous professional education associations, facilitator of many educational workshops, along with having published numerous original workbooks and books, including her dissertation: “The Impact of Best Practices and Teacher Temperament on New Teacher Success and Retention”. She was especially proud of her membership in Alpha Delta Kappa (Honorary Teachers Sorority) and her sisters who were so supportive throughout her illness.

A long-time member of Christ United Methodist Church, the center of Sharee’s life was God and family. She lived with an attitude of quiet humbleness, gracious and kind to everyone she met. Her greatest joy came from the time spent at home, at the beach, or traveling anywhere with her husband, daughters, and granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Von and Alene Sanders, her brother Scott Sanders, sister-in -law, Carol Sanders, and niece Meg Sanders.

She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Gary Miller; daughters, Sara Cross and Rachel Miller; granddaughter, Daisy Cross; brother, Michie Sanders; step-mother, Lucille Sanders; aunt, Susie Million; sisters-in-law, Janice (Jerry) Baker, Sheila Tinsley; brother-in-law, Ron (Sandy) Miller; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Special thanks to Sharee’s caring, compassionate oncologists, Dr. Sumana Nagireddy and her staff at Erlanger Oncology and Hematology, and to Dr. Michael Savona and his staff at the Vanderbilt Hematology Clinic. Sharee’s visits to the Erlanger East Infusion Center were made so much easier thanks to its staff and Melanie Savor.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 14, 2019 from 4 to 7pm and Wednesday, May 15, 2019 from 11am until the 1pm funeral service at the East Brainerd Chapel of the Chattanooga Funeral Home, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.

In lieu of flowers, Sharee requested that memorial contributions be made to: The Daisy Cross College Fund, c/o Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 23967, Chattanooga, TN 37422

Please share your memories of Sharee with the family at www.chattanoogaeastbrainerdchapel.com.

Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 8214 E. Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421.