Melba “Charlene” Miller, of Newport News, VA, passed peacefully into eternity on May 13, 2026. Born in Williamson, West Virginia, she spent her early years in the mountain communities of Kentucky and West Virginia before moving to the Peninsula at age 13. She was the devoted wife of the late James Lamar Miller, with whom she shared a loving and prosperous marriage from 1949 until his passing in 2011.
Rooted in a proud Appalachian family, Charlene cherished memories of growing up on her grandparents’ homestead on Blackberry Fork, where faith, hard work, and community shaped her upbringing. These traditional values followed her throughout her life.
Charlene enjoyed sewing, painting, gardening, and cooking, and she shared these gifts generously with others. She was active in civic life as past president of both the Peninsula Council of Garden Clubs and the Museum Garden Club; a longtime member
of the Order of the Eastern Star (Past Matron of Colonial Chapter No. 40 and member of Warwick Chapter No. 43); and a devoted member of the Baptist Church.
Her career included nearly 30 years of service with the Department of the Air Force at Langley AFB, followed by employment with the City of Newport News Department of Engineering until her retirement in 1990.
She was preceded in death by her beloved son, James L. Miller, Jr., and grandson Geremiah I. Vaughn. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Jennifer (Kenneth) Miller Brooks; her siblings, Ronald (Shirley) Blackburn and Joyce (David) Blackburn Boltz; her granddaughter, Ariel Canton Chambers; 3 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great- grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at the Chesapeake Retirement Community at 955 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA, on June 27, 2026, at 2 pm, officiated by Rev. Lynwood Wells, Pastor of Hilton Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VBH Foundation Benevolent Fund: https://lifespireliving.org/vbh-foundation/our-funds/benevolence-fund/955
You can donate online through their secure website listed above, call (804) 362-8290, or mail your check to:
VBH Foundation
3961 Stillman Parkway
Glen Allen, VA 23060