To Our Mother - With Love 💜 Some 52 years ago, a young man raised in a small town —not unlike Jefferson — approximately 600 miles due east of Jefferson — wrote a song that may well be the soundtrack of Nellie Lee Butler. The song goes… If anyone… should ever write… my life story; For WHATEVER reason — there might be. Well — Family, we’ve gathered to celebrate the LIFE and LEGACY of our Matriarch, Nellie Lee Butler. And O’ What a story it is… the life of our beautiful, bright-eyed Mom, with that crooked left-side smile that warmed our hearts… Maggie Jane’s little girl — so smart she could have run any Fortune 500 company all while retaining her well-earned designation as THEE Self-Appointed and Anointed, Shop-Til-You-Drop DIVA.  According to Mom, a woman can’t ever - as in — No, NOT EVER — Have Too Many Shoes! If anyone… should ever write… My life story… Nellie Lee’s story began in Jefferson, SC on January 20, 1935. Young Nellie fellowshipped at Hopewell Methodist Church. To some, Mom was just a small town girl with big dreams but no significant means. Little did they know, but her Father had assured her that… “Your Beginnings Will Seem Humble,
So Prosperous Will Your Future Be.” (Job 8:7). And so it is that young Nellie packed up her big dreams and caught that “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Ok… actually, it was Washington DC where her Mom, Maggie Jane, waited with open arms.  Here's a bit of trivia for you:  The guy who wrote “Midnight Train to Georgia” also wrote “You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”. Thank you, Jim Weatherly for writing Mom’s soundtrack and thank you Gladys Knight for bringing both songs to life as only you can.  Mom LOVED to sing your songs!   Clearly, Mom loved catching that Midnight Train/Plane or Automobile because this girl with big dreams LOVED to travel. From South Carolina to Washington DC, on to New York, then down to Maryland before she and Dad Butler packed up and headed west to Las Vegas and Henderson NV, before finally settling in Los Angeles CA.  At every stop there would be houses that Mom made a fabulous home. There would also be too many cars to count. You might be wondering… Just who in the world did this woman think she was? Nellie Lee would want you to know…  My Father said He…  “shall supply all my needs according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 Mom was a big proponent of Family. At every place we lived, there was an open-door/revolving door policy for aunts, cousins and friends. When I was growing up, I often thought we were Gypsies - that’s how much coming and going was going on!  Nellie Lee loved to dance. She would often recall the story of being caught out at the juke joint with Aunt Cynthia. Y’all know what happened next. Grandma Nealie found out. Unfortunately for Mom, they didn’t have Time Out back then. But they did have that belt, and Grandma Nealie got to whoppin’ that behind! Nellie Lee’s love of dancing continued well into her 90’s, even when those legs weren’t as sturdy as they used to be. She also fancied herself a singer and wasn’t shy about getting on stage with professional singers, grabbing the microphone and belting out a tune! And around 89/90, we found out that Nellie Lee could play drums… and play pretty good too!  Who Knew? I declare that Nellie Lee was a HOOT!  There was no limit to the characters and stories that happened wherever Nellie lived. She worked hard, raising 4 and sometimes 5 children, along with any child she adopted along the way. Her capacity for love and compassion to help anyone was huge and often, predictably unpredictable. She once met a lady at bus stop who had no coat, my Mom said, “here take mine. I have plenty of coats at home.” If you didn’t know better, you might wonder, “who does that?” Just a girl from Jefferson SC, whose Father demonstrated love in action when He taught:  “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.”
Matthew 25:35 If anyone… should ever write… My life story… Mom had her eldest son, Roy while living in S. Carolina, then met and married John W. Miller (divorced). They were blessed to raise Roy, Wesley E. Miller, John E. Miller, Gloria Reid and me, Janice E. Miller-Johnson. She would later marry her shuga, Raymond Butler, and expand our family to include daughters Margaret Sherod and Joyce Wells. Mom worked in many different fields before finding her calling as a Nurse. She was a cook for Hot Shops sharing her excellent cooking skills. While there she met Mattie Holder and Lavern Banks, (Geraldine Speight) who became her lifelong buddies and became our… you guessed it… FAMILY. Mom also chauffeured pilots for the airlines (and they always requested Nellie). Later, she went back to school and earned her Nursing credentials. The majority of her work life was spent operating in her gifts; providing that special Nellie Lee-brand of care as only she can. As a private duty nurse, her clientele became a literal Who’s Who. Her services remained in demand throughout the East and West coast until she retired. More than a few tried to coax her out of retirement. She also worshipped and served over 21 years on the Nursing staff at 2nd Baptist Church, Landover, MD before moving to 2nd Baptist in North Las Vegas, NV. As you may have guessed, Mom's clients also became — FAMILY, and treated her to cruises, travel via private jets, rides on Biloxi Mississippi Riverboat and so much more to show their appreciation for the woman from Jefferson, SC that provided exceptional care with a healthy dose of prayer for her patients and family alike.  She worked hard and I’m grateful that she not only realized many of her dreams and goals, but she still found time to care for and make all of us feel loved and doted on. If anyone… should ever write… My life story… Mom’s Father once said… A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Matthew 7:18 I’m sure my Mom would want you to know that her most precious gift — and sweetest fruit — is her family.  She leaves to continue her legacy her husband, Raymond E. Butler, son John E. Miller, and daughters Gloria Reid, Margaret Sherrod (Lowell),  and myself, Janice Miller-Johnson, Daughters-in-law Doris Miller, Julie Boucher and adopted daughters by Love, Creola N. Jones and Rene Smith and Beverly Crossley. Her grandchildren, Rochelle Miller, Gene Miller (Nina), U’Tonna Brown (Audrick), Andrew Miller-Boucher (Marissa), Kelsey M. Boucher, Adam and Aaron Boucher, her great-grandchildren,  Pirrassa Hicks and Jamie, Nova Ayden and Aliya Brown, Derek Rexdon Tayleanna, and great-great grandchildren: Sa'Nyah. Pirrassa Jr., Ozias, MarRezz, Roman. In closing, I’m reminded once again of our songwriter, who wrote,  “I Guess You Could Say… That I’ve Been Lucky. “I Guess You Could Say… That It’s All Because of YOU.” Now, Nellie Lee Caudle-Butler, daughter of Maggie Jane, would twist her mouth in understated, but unmistakable disapproval at the mere mention that she’s been lucky.  HOWEVER… Mom would not only embrace the next line, but set off a Holy Ghost praise party at the mere mention of it…  “I Guess You Could Say… That It’s ALL Because of YOU.” Because that little girl with Big Dreams and No Significant Means… left home with a different song in her soul… one nurtured right here at Hopewell Methodist which she sang right up til the day she transitioned. It is a melodic declaration of love for and faith in her Father. The song simply, yet powerfully declares…  “I will TRUST in the Lord 'till I die,  I will STAY on the battlefield, 'till I die…  Even in her final days, when she didn’t know who I was… didn’t recognize my brother nor my sisters… couldn’t even fathom who her beloved Husband was… but she knew WHO her Father IS/WAS and SHALL ALWAYS BE and that He is GREATLY to be PRAISED! Until her final days on this earth, she would still have the name of our Lord God Almighty on her lips!  I declare to you that on this day, our Mom would want you to know…  “that if ANYONE… should EVER write… her life story, For WHATEVER reason there may be… Oh, YOU was there… between each line of pain and glory, ‘Cause You, O’ Lord, are the BEST THING that EVER Happened To ME! Glory Hallelujah!!! I thank God today for Nellie Lee Butler. 
Glory to God!