Dr. Jacqueline (Miller) Carmichael

Jacqueline Ira Miller Carmichael, the fourteenth child of King Emanuel Miller, Sr. and Mattie Mae Toby Miller, was born in Florence (Florence County), South Carolina, January 29, 1935.

"Jackie," as she was fondly known, excelled academically at Wilson High School, Florence, South Carolina, Paine College, Augusta, Georgia, Columbia University's Teachers College, New York, New York, and Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. While earning her undergraduate degree at Paine College, she became engaged to her classmate, one of the twins, Alford Lee Carmichael. On December 20, 1958, they were wedded at Cumberland Methodist Church (now United Methodist), Florence, South Carolina. Alford and Jackie celebrated their forty-seventh wedding anniversary in December 2005. Alford succumbed to complications from Alzheimer's disease, March 2, 2006. Although they did not have children, by birth or adoption, Alford and Jackie were surrogate parents, role models, and mentors to students, family, and church members.

Jackie's occupational calling spanned a total of forty-one years as an instructor of English: five years in Dalton, Georgia, twenty-five years in the Atlanta Public Schools, and eleven years at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.

While teaching as an adjunct professor of English at Georgia State, Jackie received a spiritual calling to study. She applied for and received a Graduate Teaching Assistantship to study for and earn her Ph.D. in English, December 12, 1993. Jackie often laughed, as it was a natural for her, that she earned a Ph.D. degree forty years after receiving her high school diploma, June 1953. As God would have it, according to His will, Dr. Carmichael's dissertation of Dr. Margaret Walker's JUBILEE was revised and published by the University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia, September 1998, under the title, created by the author from her reading of the Bible, TRUMPETING A FIERY SOUND: HISTORY AND FOLKLORE IN MARGARET WALKER'S JUBILEE.

Dr. Carmichael was the recipient of several awards in education and church-related ministries. Her recognition as Teacher of the Year, West Fulton High School, Atlanta, Woman of the Year, West Side Community Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Alumni of the Year, Paine College, Augusta, the National Council of Negro Woman, Inc., Columbia (SC) Section's "Living the Legacy Award," and the "Bishop's" Empowerment Award" (Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.), Annual Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, were among the most unforgettable.

During Dr. Carmichael's forty-three-year membership at West Side C. M. E. Church, she served as Director of Christian Education, Sunday School teacher, member and leading soprano in the Senior Choir (now J. S. Hardeman Choir) and the

Jerome B. Price, Sr. Mass Choir. Dr. Carmichael was a member of the Board of Evangelism, the Budget Committee and one of two members called to introduce the Hymn of the Month. Following Mr. Carmichael's death, Dr. Carmichael relocated to her native state of South Carolina and transferred her membership to her beloved Sidney Park Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Columbia, South Carolina. Shortly after connecting to her Sidney Park family, Dr. Carmichael joined in with the Outreach Ministry to continue her service to God and to all humankind. She claimed her membership at Sidney as a servant member, one who was eager to serve with or without tangible awards or recognition, but always for the Glory of God.

Dr. Carmichael was a world traveler, having visited the Holy Land and more than sixteen countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Dr. Carmichael was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild and seldom missed a Met broadcast of Saturday operas. She was also a sports enthusiast, especially baseball, football, tennis, basketball, golf, and track and field events. If there was one moniker she chose to wear proudly, it was the term prayer warrior. Dr. Carmichael prayed, believed in the power of prayer, and thanked God publicly and privately for blessing her with such a spiritual gift.

Dr. Carmichael is survived by one adoptive brother (second cousin), John Toby Miller, Bellflower, California, one special nephew, and a niece, who were reared in the Miller Family home: Thaddeus “Butch” Barr, and Marilyn “Huck” Harrison, and a special great-niece, Peggy Wilds. In addition to these three, Dr. Carmichael claimed five generations of nieces and nephews in the Miller-Toby Family. Many cousins, other relatives, and friends mourn the passing of this “Phenomenal Woman”

In honor of Jacqueline Ira Miller Carmichael, please consider a donation to Sidney Park CME Children’s Ministry. 

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