Hannah Lee Miller died Nov. 1, 2018, at her home in Charlotte. Hannah was born in Cliffside to Hal and Eula Wilkerson Miller and was graduated from Cliffside High School, where she was class prophet and the editor of The Cliff Dweller, the school's annual. She played in the band, was a class officer and was voted "most intelligent." She remained connected to Cliffside throughout her life, attending the town's annual reunion and keeping in touch with friends.
She earned her bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University, where she was editor of the student newspaper, the Old Gold & Black. She worked as a reporter for the Shelby (N.C.) Star and was lifestyles editor for The Charlotte News. After transitioning to The Charlotte Observer when the publications merged in the 1980s, she worked as religion editor and news editor. Hannah earned a master's degree in English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and later taught at UNCC and Central Piedmont Community College. She then began her career as a freelance writer, which she continued throughout her life. She loved nothing better than traveling to a remote spot to interview an eccentric woodworker or apple farmer.
Hannah was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte (UUCC), where she worked with Room in the Inn, a citywide program to provide shelter for homeless people. She was a talented photographer and an enthusiastic member of the Repeat Offenders photography group and the Chix Pix of UUCC. She treasured her family and friends. She was beloved as the de facto social planner of her Saturday morning breakfast group and her close-knit corner of Selwyn Village friends.
Hannah loved all animals, especially her two cats, Louie and Tess. She enjoyed growing her garden, camping and canoeing. In any group, she was the one who knew where to find the undiscovered nature preserve, seabird rescue house or historic grist mill. She loved good jazz, blues and old-time music. She found comfort and energy in nature and captured those feelings well in her photos. She is survived by a large and diverse family of relatives and friends who will deeply miss her for her loyalty, keen sense of humor, creativity, curiosity and zest for life.
Hannah will be buried next to her parents at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Capernaum Cemetery outside of Waco.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Charlotte. Contributions in memory of Hannah may be made to The Humane Society of Charlotte, 2700 Toomey Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203 or a charity of choice.
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