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Photo: Louisville Metro Council

He served the community of Louisville for more than 40 years as a pastor and an advocate for housing and civil rights for all in the city.

On Saturday, December 15th, Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) will join the family and friends of the late Dr. James E. Miller and unveil an honorary sign on Golden Rule Way near the church where he preached.

“Dr. Miller led the Lampton Baptist Church and his impact reached far beyond its sanctuary for many years,” says Sexton Smith. “He was a strong leader involved in the NAACP and the Housing Authority of Louisville where touched the lives of several generations.”

Dr. James Elijah Miller was born on July 2, 1936 in Dallas, Texas. He received degrees from both Butler College and Dallas Theological Seminary. He began preaching as a teenager at Beulah Baptist Church in Texas, and later preached at Greater Galilee Baptist Church in Oklahoma before being called to serve in Louisville.

For 44 years, he was Pastor of Lampton Baptist Church in Louisville for 44 years, and after retirement he joined Christ’s Church of Our Community as an Associate Pastor.

During his life he served the Louisville community for more than 40 years in various ways including the following: hosting the Annual Martin Luther King Memorial Program, was an active member of the NAACP’s State Conference and an integral part of the 1979 NAACP National Convention in Louisville.

Mayor Harvey Sloane appointed him as Board Commissioner of the Housing Authority of Louisville where he served for 10 years and also awarded him with the key to the City of Louisville.

Dr. Miller was married to the late Doris Fay Lyons and had four children, Rev. Joel Miller, Rev. David Miller, JoAnna Harlan, and DeAnna Miller-Wooden. He went to his heavenly reward on September 2, 2018, and leaves behind his children, sisters, and many grandchildren, godchildren and great grandchildren.

Councilwoman Sexton Smith sponsored the Resolution which called for the placement of an honorary street sign Dr. Miller’s service to Louisville Metro is hereby recognized with the placement of honorary street signs on Golden Rule Way at the corners of both 4th Street and 5th Street next to the Immanuel Baptist Church and be designated as “Dr. James E. Miller Way.”

The unveiling ceremony will take place at 11:00am at the corner of South Fourth Street and Golden Rule Way located next to Immanuel Baptist Church.

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