Marjorie Elizabeth "Betty" Borom Miller

Marjorie Elizabeth Borom "Betty" Miller, age 75, of Easley, died Friday, December 2, 2016 after a three-year struggle with cancer.

She was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the eldest child of the late Rev. Wilbur L. Borom and the late Marjorie Hamrick Borom. After her father graduated from Southern Baptist Seminary, the family commenced their Christian ministry in Alabama. When she was twelve, her family moved to Columbia, S.C., where she attended high school and proceeded to earn both a BS and MS in biology from USC. Upon graduation from USC, she began her professional career which was noted by its excellence and broad scope. She taught biology at Newberry College before accepting a research position with Union Carbide at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. While there, she was married and began traveling with her husband to various locations around the United States in support of him in his career in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (NOAA Corps), while providing a loving home environment at each location and raising a wonderful family. While her husband was assigned to the Washington, DC area, she worked in biological research lab at the Smithsonian Institute. She and her husband later moved to Norfolk, VA where she taught biology at Old Dominion University. They then lived in Lawton, OK and Seattle, WA before moving to Rockville, MD, where she taught at the University of Maryland. When her family relocated to South Carolina, they moved to the Dacusville Community in Pickens County where she spent her last and most pleasant 36 years. While there she returned to graduate school at Clemson University and earned a PhD in Plant Ecology at age 59 while teaching biology full time at Greenville Technical College, from which she retired in 2013.

Her ability to quickly read voluminous numbers of books was legendary among her family. Her passion for native plants was well known, as was her love of plants in all areas of the globe, making her an oft-consulted travel companion. She was an avid and enthusiastic traveler, journeying to all seven continents. She had a strong Christian faith and was a member of Cross Roads Baptist Church in Easley, SC.

Surviving are her beloved husband of 53 years, Sidney C. Miller of Dacusville; daughter, Sarah Boyle (Jeff) of Forest City, NC; son, Dr. Hart Miller (Allison), of Pahoa, Hawaii; grandsons, Benjamin Boyle and Clay Miller; step-grandsons, Alexander and Jackson Rigg; sister, Kathy Gillespie (Joe); sisters-in-law, Betty Morin (Gene) and Nancy Hart Hamrick (Fitzhugh, deceased). She was preceded in death by a sister, Martha Broom. She had a special love for and relationship with her many nieces and nephews, who considered themselves most fortunate to know this accomplished and gracious woman.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Cross Roads Baptist Church with the Rev. Phil Henry officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from noon until 1:45 PM Tuesday, December 6, 2016 in the Cross Roads Baptist Church Family Life Center, prior to the service.

The family is at the home, 1078 Freeman Bridge Road, Easley, SC 29640.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund of Cross Roads Baptist Church, 160 Cross Roads Church Road, Easley, SC 29640.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.