Martha Bell Miller is pictured with Rock City partner, David Craig, at the Enchanted Garden of Lights
Rock City is mourning the loss of Martha Bell Miller, who died Tuesday. Ms. Miller, affectionately known as “Ma Goose” to partners at Rock City, played Mother Goose at the attraction from 1987 to 2005. From the time of her retirement to the present, she remained Rock City’s number one ambassador, continuing to spread the message to “See Rock City” whenever she had the opportunity.
“Martha Bell was an educator at heart and loved children – teaching reading was her passion,” said See Rock City (SRC), Inc. CEO Bill Chapin. “As Martha Bell Miller went on sales trips for the Lookout Mountain attractions, she brought stories to life for thousands of children she visited at schools across numerous states, as far north as Illinois and Virginia and as far west as Texas. At Rock City Gardens, hundreds of thousands of children were enriched by their encountering of a real life fairytale character, Mother Goose.”
Ms. Miller was born on Lookout Mountain and had rich memories as a seven-year-old of Rock City Gardens’ opening day on May 21, 1932. She was such a remarkable presence for Rock City, that in 2009 SRC named an annual scholarship in her honor to assist current partners (employees) in their education. As of 2016, the scholarship recipient has the opportunity to renew that $2,000 award for up to four years during continued study.
"Martha Bell would always remind me she had lived an incredibly blessed life and held on to her zest for life until the end," said Deb Ellis, executive office manager for Rock City. "Although she could no longer be at Rock City on a daily basis after her retirement, her love and dedication to this place and its people never faltered. She was one in a million and loved by millions. I have considered her one of my dearest friends since we first met and I will miss her tremendously."
Ms. Miller was quite the celebrity, not only locally but nationally as well. She appeared on the Today Show in New York City on May 30, 1998 and other broadcasts televised by CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN and ESPN. In the late 1990’s she was invited by Mrs. Martha Sundquist, wife of TN Governor Don Sundquist, to the governor’s mansion to entertain children for the Easter Egg Roll. She was invited back time and again for this special event. Her recognitions also included the state of Tennessee Ambassador of Goodwill presented on January 20, 2000.