Heriot Elizabeth Bradshaw Miller, affectionally known as “Dee Dee,” went into the Lord’s care on Thursday, July 16 at Baltimore Washington Hospital.
She was born on Jan. 18, 1944 in Hamlet, North Carolina, a small town of close-knit friends and family.
During her high school years, she was a member of the basketball team, the glee club, and the marching band. She graduated from Hamlet High School in 1962.
After graduation, she married Edward Butler and had three children, Jim, Shawn and Noël.
Dee Dee was a jack of all trades. When she returned to Hamlet, she worked at the public library where she ran the bookmobile, bringing the library to residents all over Richmond County.
She later worked as a veterinary technician and then went to work for the Rockingham Police Department as a dispatcher. During her tenure there, she was inspired to become a police officer.
After graduating from police school, she joined the Anson County Sheriff’s Department and then went on to work as a correctional officer for the North Carolina Department of Corrections.
Dee Dee lived in North Carolina for 79 years. In 2023, she moved to Arnold, Maryland, to live with her daughter and grandchildren.
Dee Dee was a member of St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Annapolis and enjoyed knitting, crochet, bird watching, music, reading and the outdoors with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Betsy Bradshaw; and her husband of 26 years, Dave Miller.
She is survived by her sister, Pat Maloney of Hamlet; her three children, Jim and his wife, Debbie, of Rockingham, Shawn and his wife, Jessica, of Raeford, and her daughter, Noël Butler of Arnold, Maryland. She had 10 grandchildren: Ryan, Drew, Katherine, Patrick, Hali, Jacob, Edward, Hobson, Harriett and Frankie; and three great-grandchildren, Clarissa, Eleanor and Evelyn.
Funeral services will be on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at Watson-King Funeral Home in Hamlet at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Pastor Nancy Williard officiating. A private burial will follow at Mary Love Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service in the chapel.
Dee Dee was a huge supporter of our military and its veterans.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Purple Heart Foundation at purpleheartfoundation.org.
Online condolences may be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Hamlet is serving the Miller family.
