A Tribute to Henry Millis and Claire Miller

Story by Nina M. Herne Walsh
Poem by Isabelle Hawks
Published in -- "Richburg-Wirt Historical Society" newsletter. “A Tribute to Henry Millis and Claire Miller.” March 2008, pp.5-6.


This is indeed a happy occasion
As we offer our sincere congratulations
For years of faithful service – to Henry and Claire,
For two more worthy Christians can’t be found anywhere.

They have served in the church for many years,
And have seen times of happiness and tears.
Many are the kind words which we could speak,
For they are Deacons who have really “deaked.”

We have heard Claire quote Scripture by heart
When the rest of us could only get a start!
Many are the portions which he can tell.
We all wish we could do it half as well.

He has worked at the church both early and late,
And had trouble making the old furnace “percolate.”
But we were always sure it would be all right,
Even if he did stay up half of the night.

Henry sang in the choir in his younger days,
And offered his voice as a tribute of praise.
Even when riding his horse, he had a lusty voice,
As he rode to his leases on the horse of his choice.

One day he got hurt badly, I think he passed out,
And no one but his horse was about.
So when he came to, he prayed there alone.
The Lord gave him strength, and the horse took him home.

But he didn’t always ride a horse.
Later on they got a car, which seemed worse,
‘Cause you just don’t tell a car “giddy-up.”
Yet he managed pretty well, with Mabel’s help.

Claire never indulged in a horseless carriage,
Not even in days after his marriage.
He usually walked to work, and back again,
Using the two good legs God gave to him.

Claire’s lease never operated on Sunday – that’s sure,
He always shut down at midnight the night before.
The men knew he was a Christian, there was no doubt.
The testimony of his life always shone out.

Now tonight we commend you both to our precious Lord:
You who have been so faithful to His Word.
And if your remaining years be many or few,
We all join in saying sincerely, “May God Bless you.”



My brother, Gary Herne, found a copy of this poem by Isabelle Hawks tucked into one of our mother’s family photo albums. Isabelle was The Richburg First Day Baptist Church’s poet-in-residence, creating verse for many occasions. Since I have a vague memory of hearing Isabelle present this, though I do not recall any details of this celebratory event, it must have taken place in the early 60’s before I graduated from high school in 1964. Isabelle’s daughter, Marlene Rogers, has a scrapbook containing her mother’s poetry. The page with this poem has the heading – “Written for the Christmas Service Banquet for Clair Miller & Henry Millis” – with Psalm 84:10 noted.

Marlene and her sister Marion were adults by the time their mother was widowed at age 42. Isabelle supported herself and her son Bernie by working in the cafeteria at the Richburg Central School. Her lively, jovial personality made her a favorite with everyone. Affectionately known as Izzy, she will always come to mind as a dedicated woman of God. Being a leading layperson, she taught my Sunday School class through junior high years, sang in the choir, was a cook and counselor for camps at Odosagih, and held Youth Group parties in her home. The Bible Conference at Odosagih in Machias, NY, was heaven on earth for her. It was there, at only 56 years of age, that she went to sleep in July of 1965 and awoke in God’s presence.

Henry Millis and Claire Miller were both elderly men in the church during my childhood. At the age of two, God spared Henry, along with several other family members, from the 1883 Ballard house fire which has been reported in earlier issues of this newsletter. The house belonged to his grandparents and sat at the apex of Jordon Hill – the same property where Henry and Mable lived when I was familiar with him as our “egg man,” delivering fresh eggs to our home. Mom (Etha Moses Herne) always invited him in to sit at the kitchen table and chat with her. It wasn’t until I began delving into my genealogy, after my mother’s death, that I learned he was her second cousin once removed. He was a tall, lanky man with a “loose” ankle, giving him an unusual gait. Henry died in 1966 at age 85.


Claire had an amazing ability to memorize Scripture as Isabelle recounts in this poem. He could recite entire books of the Bible! One of his duties as janitor of the church was to prepare Communion and care for the Communion supplies. It was a family joke that my parents were always the last to leave church. They chatted with everyone after services leaving me looking for ways to entertain myself. Communion Sunday was easy – I picked up all the Communion glasses. Mr. Miller would slyly slide a dollar bill into my hand as appreciation for the help. I didn’t do it to be paid, and I felt guilty accepting the money, but my parents explained that Mr. Miller might be insulted if I did not accept his offering. Claire was 86 when he passed away in 1968.


This photo of Isabelle and Claire working together in the old church kitchen is a memorable scene. Claire was frequently found up to his elbows in dish water after a function. None of these three precious souls lived to see the “new” church erected in the 1970’s. The current sanctuary sits on the backyard of the property where Claire and Irene Miller’s house stood.