School photographer Bill Miller dies at age 73
Bill Miller was a perennial fixture of local schools, but many might not recognize his face.
A noted school photographer who built a highly successful business, Miller usually was hidden behind a camera as he worked to capture moments in the lives of the area's schoolchildren.
For many years the owner of Bill Miller Photography in Alexandria, Miller, 73, died Thursday at his home.
"He was a true Horatio Alger story," said Kin Logan, a salesman with Miller's company for the last 11 years.
Miller came from humble beginnings and built an ultra-successful business, Logan said, but he never forgot his roots and treated people the way they should be treated.
"He never met a stranger, no matter what their station in life," Logan said.
Keith Mitchell, another employee, agreed. "I've worked here for 20 years, and you couldn't ask for a better person to work for," he said.
Miller lived his life for his company, and the company existed to help schools, Mitchell said.
The company had numerous fundraisers solely to help schools, Mitchell said.
Employee Keli Anderson remembered Miller as a very caring man.
"He didn't judge people; he would help people if you needed help, no matter what the situation," she said.
He was "always helping people out he didn't brag about; a lot of people didn't know he did things like that," added employee Sherry Henderson. Miller would help people stranded on the side of a road in an instant, she said.
"I first met Bill when we were teenagers at Ohatchee, and in all the years since I never knew him to do an unkindness to anyone," said George Smith, senior editor at The Anniston Star. "It just wasn't in his nature."
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Leatherwood Baptist Church in Anniston.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Leatherwood Baptist Church, with Dr. Sam Legon officiating.
Miller is survived by his wife, Doris E. Miller of Ohatchee; two sons, Bill D. Miller Jr. and his wife, Teresa, and Alan Miller and his wife, Lonna, all of Ohatchee; three brothers, Johnny Riley and his wife, Virginia, of Oak Grove, La., Harold Riley and his wife, MayTee, of Tupelo, Miss., and Sam Legon and his wife, Gayle, of Ohatchee; three grandchildren, Casie Miller Spencer and her husband, Joel; Abby Miller, and JonRiley Miller; a great-grandson, Miller Spencer; and several nieces and nephews.
