NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WVEC) -- Funeral services for Virginia State Senator John Miller were held Friday in Newport News.
Hundreds of mourners packed First Baptist Church Denbigh, including two governors, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, a congressman and countless other current and former public servants and media co-workers.
"I call him a quiet giant," said Governor Terry McAuliffe. "He got things done. He put the partisan politics aside and focused on education, the children, those in the military he and Dorothy worked so hard on. I'm going to miss him greatly. Didn't matter whether you were a D or R. Let's just get it done."
Miller was remembered for being a kind and caring man, whose word was his bond.
"You could always count on him to do the right thing," said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va., 3rd District). "It's a serious loss. He was focused on education, the kind of things people actually need to improve their lives. And this is just a really sad occasion."
Miller was highly respected on both sides of the aisle. This is truly a case of gone but not forgotten.
"John was a great guy," said State Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach). "He had the office next to mine in the General Assembly building. We got to be good friends. Certainly a stalwart for education, public education. Really a mainstay there. And he's really going to be sorely missed."
Miller, who died April 4, was elected to the state senate in 2007, and represented the 1st District, which includes Williamsburg, Hampton, Newport News, James City County, and parts of Suffolk and York County.
For more than 40 years, Miller has been involved in our community. An award winning journalist, he spent 18 years at WVEC-TV reporting on the issues facing Hampton Roads. He served as a reporter, anchor and news director.
He went on to serve as an aide to Senator Paul Trible, and returned to Hampton Roads to work at Christopher Newport University.
Instead of flowers, contributions in Miller's honor can be made to the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation or Peninsula READS.
A full house at First Baptist Church Denbigh for funeral of State Senator and former WVEC anchor John Miller pic.twitter.com/Nw8Tl3mQ1T
— Mike Gooding 13News (@13MikeGooding) April 8, 2016