Brookland-Cayce High School EDUCATOR HALL OF FAME
MRS. ANNA LOUISA VASSY MILLER Inducted 2006
Quiet manner, meticulous dress, inspiration, role-model, professional, beautiful — these adjectives were used to describe Mrs. Anna Louisa Vassy Miller. Deeper characteristics follow: "She was a loving, warm, friendly person who made me want to do my best." More than once former students said, "She is the reason I became a teacher," or "She is the reason I became successful at some other profession." Anna Miller taught by example the following principles of life: Dedication, Integrity, Citizenship, Expertise, Compassion, Obedience, Responsibility, Diligence, Perseverance, and other values that build character. She expected the best from each student and showed it through her attention to each individual. Born February 3, 1926 in Gaffney, South Carolina, Anna was the daughter of two professional educators, Sydney Barnett Vassey and Anna Geiger Derrick Vassey. She was educated in the local schools, then went to Limestone College to earn a BA degree in Education and a BS degree in Business in 1945. Her professional career began at Nichols High School, where she taught for one year. She then taught at Lake View High School for two years. In 1948, Anna became a member of the business faculty at Brookland-Cayce High School, where she taught for 30 years. Simultaneously Mrs. Miller taught in the B-C Airport Night School from August 1963 to 1974. Mrs. Miller, in addition to her teaching duties, served a stint as an advisor to the Senior Class, the Future Business Leaders Club, and the Laureate, the school literary magazine. She was also a mentor to the many students who came her way. Anna's professional affiliations included serving as President of Appliance Service Center, a business she owned with her husband Wade Hampton Miller, Sr., membership in the Radio Corporation of America Dealers' Association, and membership in the Hotpoint Dealers' Association. She was also a member of the Limestone Alumni, S.C. Education, and the B-C Education, and the University of South Carolina Faculty associations. Anna was active in the Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International, an honorary society of teachers. Mrs. Miller was a member of Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, where she worked with Boy Scouts and other activities. She was active in civic organizations through the Cayce-West Columbia Women's Club, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and the Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce. She was one of the co-founders of the Cayce-West Columbia branch of the Lexington County Library. She, and her husband Wade were avid members of the Bearcat Booster Club and enthusiastically supported sports and other school events. She received many honors and awards. Among them are FBLA Teacher of the Year, twice named B-C Bearcat Teacher of the Year; on several occasions named Top Sales Dealer, Hotpoint Appliances, and Top Sales Distributor, Radio Corporation of America and two different terms as Business Department Head at B-C. In 1966, she was recognized by the Columbia Record Newspaper as the Columbia Area Business Teacher of the year. Anna and Wade Miller had two sons, Barnett Miller and Hampton Miller, who both are graduates of B-C High School. They were both reared with their mother's philosophy — "Do your best; prepare for your day's work; the finished product is your signature." Anna Miller achieved many of her accomplishments while dealing with life threatening illnesses. She died on September 5, 1978, while still employed by Lexington District Two. She was indeed a Master Person and Master Teacher as evidenced by the many glowing testimonials from family, friends, fellow church members and, most of all, former students. She influenced positively many, many lives. "She left each place a better place because she had been there."

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