Ann Hanson Miller Tate
Ann Hanson Miller Tate, 85 years old, of Dalton, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at her home with family.
She was born to parents Wilburn “Billie” Hanson and Paul McCarver Hanson, on July 12, 1937, in LaFayette, Ga.
She graduated from Dalton High School in 1955. She went on to study at LaGrange College and graduated with an undergraduate degree in English. She later attended West Georgia College where she earned her master’s degree in Special Education.
Ann Worked as a teacher for 30 years. She loved children of all ages and taught from ages 2-13 years old. For the majority of her years of service, she taught Special Education at Dalton Junior High School. She retired from the Dalton Public School System in 1999.
Ann was a beauty with a bubbly personality who may best be remembered for the love and selfless caregiving she provided for her children, her aging parents, her husbands, and her siblings. She dearly loved babies and enjoyed taking care of many of her grandchildren full time when they were small. She was an avid photographer and loved to share her family pictures with everyone. Ann loved to host celebrations for birthdays, holidays, and special events. Even a snow day off from school was a reason to celebrate with snowman building, hot chocolate, and time beside the fireplace. She enjoyed singing whether it be at home while cleaning, or with the Sounds of Joy and Chancel Choirs at Dalton First United Methodist Church. Travel was another of Ann’s passions. Trips to camp at Fall Creek Falls, beach vacations, and travel abroad were some of her favorite times. A mission trip to Peru with church friends was a special event. If anyone were to ask her what her hobbies were, Ann would jokingly reply that her primary hobby was doing laundry.
She met and kissed the impish William “Bill” Miller, Jr. when they were both in first grade. The childhood sweethearts married June 12, 1959 in Dalton. Together they raised three children: Laura Miller Reed, Melanie Miller Lovingood, and William Leo Miller, III. Eight years after Bill’s passing, Ann met kindhearted Samuel Tate, Jr. at church and the two married on June 28, 2008.
Ann is survived by her children, Laura Reed, Melanie (Shane) Lovingood, and William (Stephanie) Miller, III, and her grandchildren, Michael Lovingood, Sarah Lovingood McKellar (Lee), Miller Lovingood, Hannah Reed, Tresha Reed, Annaliese Miller, Ashley Miller and Wilson Miller, IV. She is also survived by her beloved sister-in-law, Starr Hanson.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Billie Hanson, her siblings, James Hanson and Linda Hanson, her spouses, William Miller, Jr. and Samuel Tate, Jr., and her stepson, Samuel “Tres” Tate, III.
The family has entrusted Love Funeral Home with the arrangements. They will receive family and friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 1-3 p.m. with the memorial service following at 3 p.m., 1402 N. Thornton Ave. Dalton, Georgia 30720. She will be inurned in the columbarium in the Prayer Garden at First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Dalton First United Methodist Church, earmarked for sound of Joy Choir and Saturday Sacks, https://daltonfumc.com/give/ . Memorials may also be made to the Dalton Education Foundation, https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/about/dalton-education-foundation .
Special thanks to Ann’s compassionate caregivers and Amedisys Hospice. We will always carry your memory in our hearts.