Florence Miller

Florence Jane Miller, age 100, of Benton Harbor, MI passed away from this earth to her heavenly home on Monday, April 14, 2025. Florence was born on January 14, 1925 in Benton Harbor to August and Clara Miller.

Florence graduated from Benton Harbor High School, The Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Wheaton College (B.A.) in Wheaton, IL, The Biblical Seminary in New York (MRE) and did further studies at the South Western Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, TX and the London Bible College in London, England. After graduation from The Biblical Seminary in 1950 Florence served one year as Director of Christian Education at the Erin Avenue Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH where her brother, the Rev. Edwin Miller, was the pastor.

Florence served as a missionary in Japan for thirty eight years (1951-1989) under the North American Baptist Mission as one of the first NAB missionaries sent to Japan. She helped start the Ise Baptist Church in Ise City and the Tsu Christian Center. She focused on university student evangelism at the Mie University Agricultural College. This led to the Tsu Shinmachi Christian Church and later developed into the Toyogaoka Christian Church.

As the need for trained national church leaders became evident, Florence was led to help establish the Osaka Biblical Seminary, where she taught for thirteen years. While teaching at the Seminary, she served in various ways in the Japan Baptist Churches where help was needed. Later she taught English and Japanese Bible Classes and participated actively in the Ikeda Christian Church in Ikeda City, Osaka, where she lived for many years, until she retired in 1989. Following retirement, she made her home in Benton Harbor. However, Florence returned to Japan for ten short terms of service in the Japan Baptist Churches.

During a leave of absence from the Mission, following the death of her father, she served for three years at her home church, Napier Parkview Baptist Church as Director of Christian Education. After retiring at age 65, she again served in her church in many capacities (Single Adult Fellowship, Women’s Missionary Fellowship, Missions Committee, Sunday School teacher and children’s clubs). Florence also served on a team that held a weekly Bible Study at Lakeland Continuing Care Center for seniors and visited shut-ins.

Surviving Florence is a sister, Sherrill Wesner of Georgia and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, brother, Rev. Edwin (Mary) Miller of Media, PA, two sisters, Evelyn (Dale) Chaddock of Wheaton, IL and Lillian (Edgar) Wesner of Tacoma, WA, and brother-in-law, Paul Wesner.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 20 at 11:00 AM at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, 245 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor. A private graveside service was held at Crystal Springs Cemetery. Arrangements by Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, 269-556-9450. Gifts in lieu of flowers can be given to either Napier Parkview Baptist Church, https://www.napierchurch.org/ or to Yuri Nakano, a North American Baptist missionary to Japan at www.nabconference.org. Once you access the site, please enter Yuri’s name and the amount you would like to donate.