JoAnn Ridgway Miles, Jan 27, 2009
02-18-2009Hot Springs
JoAnn Ridgway Miles, 76, of Hot Springs, a faithful United Methodist laywoman, lover of family and friends, and advocate for justice, died Jan. 27, 2009, surrounded by family. She was the spouse of retired United Methodist pastor John Miles.
She was born to Dora and Melvin Ridgway on Dec. 8, 1932, in McCrory, and baptized at McCrory Methodist Church. With her brother, Melvin, and sister, Virginia, she was raised in Forrest City by their mother, a grade school teacher and their father, a shoe store clerk. While a student at Arkansas State Teacher’s College in Conway, she met a young preacher, John Miles, at a college event at First Methodist Church. They married at First Methodist in Forrest City, and she joined him in ministry. After honeymooning at the Methodist Annual Conference, they moved to Dallas where he attended Perkins School of Theology.
She was a faithful member of the churches to which they were appointed: Wilmot, Eudora, Star City, Fairview-Camden, Oaklawn-Hot Springs, Arkadelphia First, St. James-Little Rock and Hot Springs First, where she taught Sunday School. She was a member of PEO.
She won awards for her advocacy. A temperance woman at heart, Miles opposed gambling, hard liquor and wastefulness of all sorts. Often heard on her lips was the old saying, “Use it up, wear it out, make do, do without.” She was Arkansas president of Homemakers for the Equal Rights Amendment and involved in numerous other advocacy groups.
She was the founder and convener of the Women’s Leadership Team of the United Methodist South Central Jurisdiction and was instrumental in the Inclusivity Coalition. Through this work she was credited with helping to elect the first women bishops, the first Hispanic bishop, and several African-American bishops in this region.
Miles was known for her abundant love for her extended family and friends. She and her husband raised three children and nurtured an extended family. A home economics graduate from Henderson State University, Miles was renown for her extravagant hospitality.
Preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Virginia Brooks Covert, she is survived by her husband, John Miles; by her brothers and sisters, Melvin and Kay Ridgway, Warren and Joy Miles, and Peggy and James Lann; by her children, Deborah Miles and Marc Rudow, John and Susan Miles and Rebekah Miles and Len Delony; and by seven grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Jan. 31 at First United Methodist Church, Hot Springs. Memorials may be given to a church or charity of your choice or to the JoAnn Miles Leadership Fund for United Methodist Clergy Women through Perkins School of Theology.
