Clara Mae (Gaines) Miller

MRS. CLARA MAE GAINES MILLER, 80 of ASHEBORO, NC passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at High Point Medical Center, High Point, NC.

Funeral Services will be held 12:00 pm Sunday, August 9, 2020 at the Wesley Chapel AME Zion Church, 1017 Brewer St., Asheboro, NC.  Her remains will lie in repose 11:00 am to 12:00 pm prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be held 3:00 pm Monday, August 10, 2020 in Randolph Memorial Park in Asheboro, NC.

A public viewing will be held 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Saturday, August 8, 2020 at the Wesley Chapel AME Zion Church, Asheboro, NC.  Harris Funeral Home & Cremations of MT. Gilead, NC, is charge of arrangements.

Clara Mae Gaines Miller , was born on Monday, June 3, 1940 in  Anson County, Lilesville, North Carolina.  She was the third child born to the late Elmer Gaines and Maggie Haywood Gaines.

She attended school in Anson and Richmond Counties, North Carolina.  After the death of both parents, she lived with her brother Elsie for a short while.  Then she moved out on her own to help care for her younger siblings.  She learned how to work hard and preservere early in life.

In 1957, she married Hubert Stanton Miller and began her life as a wife and a mother to Larry and Hubert (aka Tater). She was a beautiful mother, granny, sister and a best friend to many.  She loved her family, friends and church family.  She was a great listener, advisor, confidant and let's not forget her comedy skills.  She could always make you laugh.  She never met a stranger and quickly became everyone's "Aunt Clara"!

Clara was a faithful member of Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church for more than 50 years.  She was a true woman of God who never wavered in her faith.  She was a member of the Stewardess Board.  That was her calling.  She knew how to love on people.  So loving on the Pastor came easy for her.  Everyone knows she was a "songstress extraordinare".  No one loved to sing more than her.  She was a charter member of the Wesley Chapel Gospel Choir.  She sang songs like "Lay Your Hands On Me Jesus, I Don't Mind" and " God Is Able" and Everyday Will Be Like Sunday" and who could forget, "When The Gates Swing Open."  A  few years ago, during a Gospel Choir Anniversary (and after she had extensive throat surgery), she introduced us two songs, "Use Me Lord".  The lyrics say, "I want to live so God can use me...anywhere and anytime."  The second song was "I Believe".  She sang, "I believe in the Father and Son and the Holy Ghost all make one....I can't touch him the face, I can't see but I believe".  Both songs perfectly summed up her testimony!

She began her work career at Kiser's Laundry and worked there for 10 years.  She was then hired as a Pre-Boarder at Bossong Hosiery Mill.  She was employed ar Bossong for 37 years and retired on December 19, 2003.

Clara (Gal) was preceded in death by both parents; one son, Larry Donnell Gaines, one brother, Bishop Elsie Gaines and two sisters, Odessa Gaines and Dora Lee Harris, a nephew, Roger Gaines and her husband Hubert S. Miller.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her son, Hubert Leo Miller (Regina) of High Point, NC; three granddaughters, Demetria Allmond of Raleigh, NC, Latoya Julius of Winston-Salem, NC and Ashley Julius of Asheboro, NC; one grandson, Larry Julius of Asheboro, NC; ten great-grandchildren, Adrienne Graham, Kennedy Graham, Ambriah Julius, Aniah Julius, Alyssia Julius, McKinley Julius, Zamari Goldston, Zaniya Goldston, Makiya Simmons and Layden Fox; one brother, Louis C. Gaines (Rev. Patricia) of Asheboro, NC; eleven nieces, Sonya Thompson (Anderson), Tina Gaines, Phoebe McInnis(Donnell), all of High Point, NC, Brenda Gaines, Greensboro, NC, Helen Gaines Settle (Lorenzo), Asheboro, NC, Beverly A. Harris, Mt. Gilead, NC, Maudestine Harris-Chambers (Lavern), Kimberly L. Harris, all of Monroe, NC, Moneke Gaines and MaKira Settle, both of Asheboro, NC and Cheryl Gaines of Ramseur, NC; six nephews, Gary Gaines, Bertie County, NC, Elsie Leroy Gaines (Gale), Greensboro, NC, Hubert Leroy Harris, Jr.(Lela), Mt. Gilead, NC John F. Harris (Linda), Monroe, NC, Cedric Gaines (Cynthia) of Raleigh, NC and Adrian Gaines; High Point, NC; sister-in-law, Ernestine Gaines of High Point, NC; brother-in-law, Hubert Harris, Sr. of Mt. Gilead, NC and a host of nieces, great-nieces, great-great-nieces, nephews, great-nephews, great-great-nephews, cousins and dear friends.  Thank you to her caregiver, Sheila, for her loving care over the years.