When I was very young, I loved to go to David Miller's store, Miller's Grocery. The store faced the road and was perched high above Big Cotton Indian Creek and the old grist mill, Miller's Mill, that David and his father ran for many years in Henry County, Georgia.
David Miller was married to my mother's second cousin, Mildred Knight Miller. Cousin Mildred made the best peanut butter fudge. David sold amazing coconut cookies from a big glass jar in his store. He also supplied these to Vacation Bible School at my home congregation each summer.
In that congregation, starting very young, I learned to sing in parts. In fact, sitting beside one of David and Mildred's daughters in choir is how I learned to sing alto. This portion of my vast extended family gifted me, then, with sweets and music. Both are part and parcel of my deep roots in that part of Georgia.
David and Mildred had two daughters and one son and grandchildren from each of their children. The son of their son is Mark Miller. He's a renowned singer, songwriter, and guitarist of roots music, particularly Americana and gospel. Almost every year at Shingleroof Campmeeting, Mark provides the music for the Sunday morning service. Sometimes he's joined by musical colleagues who tour with some of the biggest names in country music.
Last July at campmeeting I asked Mark if he would bring his music on a visit to St Paul's. He said, "Yes! I love Episcopalians and love playing for them." Mark and a colleague will visit us the last weekend in March (28-30). As of now, we anticipate Friday gospel Evensong on the front porch of Kipany House, a long set in nave on Saturday evening, and a gospel-flavored mass at 10 AM on Sunday. More details to come.
The photo is of Mark on the old Miller's Mill bridge that my grandparents used to take their corn by wagon to Mark's great-grandparents' mill.
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