Ethel Mae (Dillion) Miller was born in Pearl, Mississippi, on January 21, 1937, to Leon and Ellen Victoria (Tobias) Dillion. She was one of fifteen children. Her mother birthed ten. Ethel Mae Dillion was educated in a one-room schoolhouse. She took pride in saying that her Sunday School Teachers were also her educators. She was raised a Baptist until the family moved to St. Louis. The family converted to the Apostolic doctrine under Bishop P.L. Scott. Ethel completed her education in the St. Louis City Schools and graduated from Soldan High School in 1956. She married Johnnie B. Wilson in June of that same year. The following year, they welcomed their first child, Shelia Tyrell Wilson. The family relocated to Waukegan, Illinois, and then to Cleveland, Ohio. Ethel worked various jobs to help her husband provide for their growing family. Ethel also supported her husband in obtaining his undergraduate and postgraduate education. They founded the Grace Bible College together, along with Elder Merlin Ford of Virginia.
The Couple also published a Christian magazine, “The Voice in the Wilderness”. They welcomed three children to their family: Andriea, Johnnie II, and Marciea Renee Wilson. Ethel also worked in the production of The Inspirational Radio Broadcast. Ethel assisted her husband in his dry-cleaning plant and satellite locations until shortly before his death on August 9, 1976. She was the first lady of the Merciful Church of Christ. Ethel Mae Wilson obtained a certification from Grace Christian College as a Christian Counselor. She served as a Sunday School Superintendent, a mentor to the church’s young women, and a choir director. She loved going to the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World conventions. Ethel Mae Wilson married Deacon Taylor B. Miller in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1979, and then relocated her family to Centralia, Illinois. She served as a Deacon’s wife at the Lively Stone Church of God, Centralia. She served as the church secretary and bookkeeper for her son, Johnnie Wilson II, at his place of business, Keyboard Quarters. She was also on the mother’s board at Bible Base Community Church, which was considered the Church Mother. Ethel Mae Miller was a businessperson, counselor, singer, Sunday School Superintendent, Pastor’s wife, deacon’s wife, and mother to four children.
She leaves to mourn her passing by her only surviving sibling, Gloria J. Jackson, and her children: Shelia Tyrell (Washington), Cisco, Andriea Wilson (James) Washington, Johnnie (Shenae) Wilson II, and Marciea Renee Wilson. She leaves eight grandchildren: Darlene T. Dues, Tiffany T. Rudolph, Jason L. Rudolph, Sr., Brittaney N. Houston, Johnnie Wilson III, Dustin Jarae Wilson, Rishae N. Rucker, Sherrah K., and (Nicholas) Vaughn-Rucker. Ethel loved her bonus children, Sam Miller, Dr. Chiquita Miller Johnson, and Jaunita Thomas. Great Grandchildren: Jason L. (Camillia) Rudolph, Jr., Zaria I. Foster, Jayon L. Rudolph, Jasmine L. Rudolph, Nakai J. Chaney Jr, Ariell R. Wilson, Kimari Wilson, Myles Houston, Nolan Houston, and Vivan Sloan-Vaughn-Rucker, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Ethel Mae Miller supported her family and the community through her many gifts and talents, including her cooking and selfless acts of ministry serving people experiencing poverty and widows. She was a foster mother to many. Ethel continued to use her gift of music and biblical knowledge until she was physically unable to minister. She continued to sing The Lord’s Prayer before meals at two of the nursing facilities where she resided during her early years of confinement.
Funeral Services will be held Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM at the Bible Based Community Church in Centralia, Illinois. Visitation will be held Sunday evening from 4:00 PM until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be held Monday, December 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bible Based Community Church and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home located at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to Ethel’s Family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Funeral Home Facebook page.
