Marylee Miller passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024, at Inova Loudoun Hospital after complications from a stroke. We are thankful to God for His great mercy in that she did not suffer long. She was born on August 15, 1947, to Alice Ann Reid and Floyd Grant. She was raised in St. Louis, Virginia by her mother Alice and stepfather, Oden Grigsby, Sr.

Marylee was preceded in death by her parents: Alice Reid Grigsby, Oden Grigsby, Floyd and Louise Grant; her youngest daughter, Bettina "Toad" Smith Ervin; her brothers: Oden "Duck" Grigsby, Jr., Bobby Champ, Gerald Smith and Sonny Champ; and her sisters: Priscilla "Tiny" Thomas and Susie Latimer; her nephew, Floyd "Yogi" Latimer and sister-in-law Sheila Miller.

Marylee leaves to cherish her memory: a special love, Randal Miller, her loving daughters: Vanessa (Lucy), Odessa (Joseph), Tina (Kevin), Nina (Raymond), and her beloved son, Calvin Jr.; her grandchildren: Kristal, Antwan, Andreca, NeKisha, Latina, Bronson, Kevin, Anthony, Andre, Austin, KeAndre, Brock, Shylynn, Donavon and Caylynn; 21 great-grandchildren; her nieces: Shelly (Kelvin), Teresa, Tammie, Danielle and Danae; her nephew Keith; her sisters and brothers: Ruth Ann Champ, Pearl Champ and David Champ; her sister-in-law and best friend since the third grade, Janet Wiggins, and sisters-in-law Carolyn and Diane; her brother-in-law John Thomas; special friends Joy Howard, Carl Hill, Peggy Swartz, Barbara Berge and a host of cousins, friends and relatives.

She grew up in a time when cousins were more like siblings, so she shared a special bond with many in the Reid, Grigsby and Grant families. Marylee had a mother's heart for so many…often referring to Tanya, Beverly, Altonio and Michael Marshall, Jon Mattia, Justin Kojok, Amy Garcia, Lina, Tracy, and Jim Dyche as "her" children.

As a child, Marylee attended the Austin Grove United Methodist Church, and as an adult, joined Providence Baptist Church, where she re-dedicated her life to Jesus. She welcomed everyone into her heart and our family. We were blessed to love her and to be loved by her.

She attended Banneker Elementary School and Douglass High School and was proud to be a Douglass Alumni. Marylee went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and was a pre-school teacher for 40 years, loving children and impacting many of their lives forever. A lot of those teaching years were spent on the site of her historic Douglass High School (then used as a community center). Marylee loved telling stories of the children's antics and her time working with Jeanne Martin. She and Jeanne really started the whole "kids say the darndest things" years ago and enjoyed just about every minute of teaching!

Marylee spent time as a nursing assistant, where she cared for the elderly. She also sold life insurance for a season – always taking care of people in some way.

After losing her youngest daughter, Marylee discovered social media – and Facebook became her "therapy" as she shared her grief and was able to help others through their grieving. She was so proud of her FB Farmville farm! Before we knew it, she had accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! She so enjoyed keeping up with her family, friends and pre-school students and would often post pictures of their pre-school days upon graduation from high school and college. The kids loved it, and they loved her.

She was a "wanna-be" photographer and always had a camera, took photos and was so excited when the cell phone camera became a thing! Her photos were her most valued possessions!

Marylee was beautiful, had an incredible smile and brought joy through laughter and storytelling. She loved to laugh, and make others laugh. She was surrounded by loved ones during her week in the hospital and she was full of humor to the end. Thank You, God, for Your love and faithfulness.

Our family casino outings and watching horse-racing (especially the Kentucky Derby) held a special place in her heart as moments of joy, laughter, and love. Marylee brought fun to everything! She looked forward to her soap operas (we began to think Victor, Nikki, Jack, Neil, Mrs. Chancellor, Sonny, Carly and them' were family members). She watched reality TV shows with compassion, often empathizing with the characters. She also enjoyed her nighttime soaps!

Marylee was a vibrant person who lived life to the fullest, attending Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart concerts (and she has the tattoos to prove it)! She loved Country music and Rock. Back in the day, she could often be found out on the dance floor! She studied and appreciated Black History and politics. It brought her immense pride to witness Barack Obama's historic presidency, symbolizing progress and hope.

Her love for her family and friends transcends the bounds of time and space, resonating with an eternal warmth and presence that continues to enrich the lives of those she touched. Even though she is no longer physically present, her spirit endures in the cherished memories, shared moments, and the enduring bonds she forged.

In the hearts of her loved ones, Marylee's love remains a guiding light, offering comfort, strength, and solace during both joyous occasions and moments of hardship. Her legacy of love is a testament to the profound impact one person can have on the lives of others, leaving a mark that will be treasured for generations to come.

Marylee loved well and was well-loved.