Ann Miller let me into her English 152 class when I was but a freshman. It was the class of a lifetime and, following it, she let me into her plots and schemes to stimulate her students to learn. We remained friends since those memorable days in 1965 and she was always my idea of what an educator should be, but seldom is. Her brilliance, her verve, her tenacious love of life and the observation of it were infectious. But it was her abiding love of people that made her so splendid and unique. The world was vastly richer for her presence and I hope her inheritors remember her through their service to others. My condolences to her family and my hopes that God will hold her close.

I was shocked, saddened and my tears suprised me. Ann was the single greatest teacher I have known, her passion inspires me still. I sat in her office one day and asked her the name of the flowers and she said "jeff, do you not know the tulip"? She knew beauty and never lost the wonder.

I "lucked into" having Professor Miller. At the time, I knew nothing about her. In later years I learned that she was a legend in her time. I spent four years at Baylor and I only remember two professors from that entire time. One of them is Ann Miller. I will never forget her, nor will anyone who, like I, had the good fortune to make her acquaintance.

After only 33 years, I still have happy memories of English 151 because of Ann Miller. She was larger than life and made the time fly by. As an alumna, I always looked forward to any time I could hear her speak. I will miss her. I know that she touched thousands upon thousands of lives and changed them all for the better. Let her life be an inspiration to us all.

There are a lot of people who make an impression on your short journey through life's highway. Ann Miller made that impression on me at Baylor University. It was my first day of class in 1957 when I entered her classroom that September morning. Prof. Miller asked me to spell accommodate in front of the class. Needless to say, I was not successful. This was a great lesson I learn about success in life. I knew I had to try harder to achieve my goals and I was not going to slide by. Dr. Miller, you probably don't remember me, but I sure do remember you and what you meant to my life. I was sadden to learn of your death and I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to your family.

Paul F. McClinton
Class of 1962

Guestbook for Annie (Ann) Vardaman Miller signed by Page Vardaman Cupper on Aug 18, 2006.

..
Nay, We Are Seven

---A Simple Child, dear brother Jim
That lightly draws his breath,
And feels his life in every limb,
What should he know of death?

I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.

She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad:
Her eyes were dark, Annie Laurie;
--Her beauty made me glad.

"Sisters and brothers, little Annie,
How many may you be?"
"How many? Seven in all," she said
And wondering looked at me.

"And where are they? I pray you tell."
She answered, "Seven are we;
And two of us at Oakland dwell,
And two are gone to sea.

"Two of us in the church-yard lie,
My half-sister and half-brother;
And, in the church-yard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother."

"You say that two at Oakland dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven!--I pray you tell,
Sweet Annie, how this may be."

Then did Annie reply,
"Four boys and a girl are we;
Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree."

"You run about, my little Annie,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five."

"Their graves are green, they may be seen,"
Annie replied,
"Twelve steps or more from my mother's door, And they are side by side.

"My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.

"And often after sunset, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.

"The first that died was brother Calvin; In bed he moaning lay, Till God released him of his pain; And then he went away.

"So in the church-yard he was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round his grave we played,
My brother Jerry and I.

"And when the ground was white with snow, And I could run and slide, My brother Jerry was forced to go, And he lies by his side."

"How many are you, then," said I,
"If they two are in heaven?"
Quick was Annie’s reply,
"O Master! we are Seven."

"But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!"
'Twas throwing words away; for still
Little Annie would have her will,
And said, "Nay, we are seven!"

Wordsworth

Daddy, Robert, Laurie, Carol, Pam, Kirsten and Bridget, I love you with all my heart.
Seattle, WA

pagecupper@yahoo.com

Who could touch our hearts quite like Ann Miller? She was one-of-a-kind. More than my favorite English professor, Ann was a dear friend to me. Her passion for life was contagious. She always put a smile on my face. I will never forget hearing her quote poetry as we walked through the Lake District, having tea parties in her home or her thoughtful tokens of love like the Westminster Abbey magnet that hangs in my kitchen to this day. Knowing Ann greatly enriched my life and I am eternally grateful.

'...the embers left from earlier fires, the light in the eye grown dim, shall duly flame again...'

Whitman

To the Vardaman and Miller families
and extended kin and dear friends,

Ken and I send our condolences and prayers. Ann was special--and will remain special to so many thousands of us and to the basic foundation of our dear Baylor University. We will all miss her---her wit, her charm her direct honest, and her love for life and all its beauty. May God bless Ann and all of you.

With our blessings and love,
Kay and Ken Mueller

I know Ann through Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was always a smiling light and several times was the feature speaker at meetings. The Waco Kappa Alumnae want to send our condolences to the family. We know you will miss this extraodinary woman. Cynthia Squires,Waco alumnae president

In 1987 my family and I suffered through a house fire. Among the things that were lost were the cherished notes and thoroughly underlined textbooks from the English literature and modern poetry classes I had taken under Ann Miller in the early 70's. On a subsequent trip to Waco I shyly (I was still in awe of her) asked her if I might have something to by which to better remember my classroom experiences--perhaps some notes she had written in preparation for a lecture, or even a course outline for the romantic poets. A week or two later I was stunned to receive in the mail her personal copy of the Norton Anthology in which were her underlinings, notes to herself, etc. Accompanying this gift was a note from her expressing how she had been honored by my request! Is it any wonder that this woman has been loved and revered by thousands? Yes, she was a phenomenal teacher. But she was an even greater encourager.

For a woman who loved words, it is difficult to find just the right ones to describe Ann Miller. For me, she made Baylor a home as well as a university. I had the great good fortune to know Ann and Bob as my Training Union sponsors at First Baptist Church as well as the sponsors of the Athenean Club. They opened their home and their hearts to us and I remember many wonderful meals and visits with them with Robert and Laurie entertaining us by naming dinosaurs with words I could not begin to pronounce! Yes, Ann passed on her love of words to these small children just as she passed on her love of life to all of us. She was a person who made a place in your heart and a person you will always remember with joy and thankfulness.

'...the embers left from earlier fires, the light in the eye grown dim, shall duly flame again...'

Whitman

For the blessed family members, cherished friends, and inspired students ~

What an honor it was to have known Ann Miller and to be inspired by her teachings and her life! I come from four generations of Baylor Bears, and my mother warned me about Professor Miller. Back in the sixties, she was afraid to take one of her classes for Ann Miller was known to be tough. A decade later, I am forever changed because I went with my instincts and took two of her classes and was invited to her home.

I listened to her with every ounce of my being and grew emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually from knowing her. Her boldness was unmatched.

It amazes me how she was used on earth to inspire. May you all feel peace knowing she is with her Creator. She will be greatly missed by all she encountered. I, for one, will never be the same.

We send you our love and prayers. Ann was always so special to all the O'Malley kids. She always had a beautiful smile when I would see her and always wanted to know how we were all doing. She will always hold a very special place in my heart.
Love,
Sharon