Florence E. Miner

Today we celebrate the life of Florence Emily Miner who was born on February 18, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland. Florence departed this life on Sunday, May 16, 2021 after an extended illness. She was born to Ann Harmon and Charles Moore and was the second oldest of four girls. Her parents and sisters, Lily Ann and Louise, preceded her in death. The family moved from Baltimore to Hagerstown, Maryland where Ann and Charles raised their daughters.

Florence was affectionately known as “Sis” or “Sissy” by her close family and friends. Florence graduated from Waynesboro High School and attended Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She later earned her Master’s Degree in Music Education from Columbia University in New York.

Although Florence was born with a physical disability that required her to use a prosthetic leg, she never let that slow her down. This health challenge prepared her later in life to beat breast cancer and COVID.

Florence taught in the Maryland Public School System for 10 years. During that time, while visiting her relatives in Detroit, she met the love of her life and her partner for the next 55 years, Kenith Miner. She married Kenith in 1965 and moved to Detroit, where she taught for another 20 years in the Detroit Public School System.

She and Kenith partnered in teaching in the music program at Lillibridge Elementary School in Detroit. Florence later taught at Chrysler Elementary School and eventually Marshall Elementary School, from which she retired.

After retirement, Florence shared her talent as a piano teacher at her husband’s music school – The Miner Brothers School of Classical & Gospel Music. When she moved to Detroit, Florence joined her husband’s church, New Providence Baptist Church. Florence loved her church and was active in the Missionary Ministry.

Florence was also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated which she joined as an undergraduate in 1953.

Florence is survived by her husband Kenith, two daughters, Kimberly Louise Miner Strong (James) of Alpharetta, GA; Kelly Lynn Miner of Southfield, Michigan; two grandsons, Jordan and Jamaal Strong, Alpharetta, GA; one sister, Charlotte May Keyes of Hagerstown, MD; nieces: Dr. Cheryl Yates, Carolyn Beck, India Keyes; nephews: Rev. Dr. Charles Watkins, Rick Keyes and a host of cousins and friends.