Bessie Anne Miller

Bessie Anne Miller, age 89, of Destin, FL, passed away peacefully and in the home and company of loving family in Tulsa, Oklahoma on December 25, 2021. Anne was born in Geneva, Alabama, the daughter of Julius Caesar Miller and Maxine Skipper.

She spent her school years in Chicago, IL and then in Fort Walton Beach, FL. She met Charles "Charlie" Nathan Miller while he was on active duty in the US Airforce Boat Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base. They married in April, 1951 and spent 50 years together until Charlie's passing on May 10, 2001.

Anne and Charlie shared a passion not only for each other but also for the Gulf of Mexico. They settled in Fort Walton Beach, FL and later in Destin, FL. Anne received her Captain's license when she and Charlie began working on a boat called The Old Hickory. Later, they purchased and restored their own boat called The Windwalker where they successfully ran a deep-sea charter fishing business for many years. In retirement, they helped work with their son, Ripp Miller, with his boat The Barbie Anne. They also helped charter and serve as founding members of The Destin Seafood Festival and The Destin Shark Tournament.

Anne was a resilient lady who was as generous and loving as her spirit was strong. Her kindness was most notable where folks would often describe her and Charlie as ones to "give their own shirt off their backs" for others. Her kindness and possession of a broad worldview made many people feel comfortable talking to her about anything. Exceptionally witty, Anne loved to gather round the table with her family to share her wonderful meals and tell both heartfelt and funny stories. If we could hear her now, she'd say Granddaddy was asking what in the dang heck she's doing in heaven too soon!

Anne was a member of the Emerald Coast Christian Church and very active in her community. She believed in living a life outside her own and set a beautiful example of a life in service to others.

Bessie Anne Miller is survived by her children, Cheryl White of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Regina Gail Miller Stultz of Destin, FL, Julius Ripp Miller of Destin, FL; her grandchildren, Michelle White-Sanders of Moorestown, NJ, Patrick White of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tiffany Anderson of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; her brother, Jerry Jerome Miller of Destin, FL; her brother Michael Gregory; her nephew Ashley Miller, niece Alison Lambrechts; five great-grandchildren; three great-nieces and nephews, many very dear cousins, and lots of beloved friends and neighbors.

Preceding Anne in death are her husband Charlie Nathan Miller; her sister, Patricia Brooks; her daughter-in-law, Linda Miller, her niece Christine Brooks; and her nephew, Michael Brooks, and grandson-in-law, Jeffrey Orben.

Cremation services will be provided by Schaudt Funeral Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Memorial services are still being planned and will be held in Destin, FL at a date and time to be determined in the spring of 2022. Her name will be engraved on The Sea Captain's Memorial at The Destin Memorial Cemetery at 111 Stahlman Avenue, Destin, FL 32541.