As I think back on the life of the late Vivian T. Miller, I think about an African American queen from Philadelphia who was small in stature and size but could throw a powerful political punch when needed.
Vivian Miller was one of those African American women “first.” She was the first and only Black woman elected to the position of Philadelphia Clerk of Quarter Sessions, first elected in 1987. She held that position in the court system for five consecutive four-year terms. She retired in 2010 after Mayor Michael Nutter abolished the Clerk of Quarter Sessions position, which was a long-standing row office in Philadelphia.
At the time when the office was demolished, the duties of her office were shifted to the Philadelphia County court system.
She served as a committeeperson, ward leader, and executive chair for the 51st Ward of Southwest Philadelphia for over 25 years. Her strong leadership and expertise in campaigning helped quite a few individuals to become elected officials, both local and national. When she came into the office of Clerk of Quarter Sessions, she had already worked in politics for years. She used to work for U.S. Congressman Ozzie Myers as a constituent services representative. She also worked in the City Commissioners Office’s voter registration division, where she learned the technical components of elections.
Miller was born on February 27, 1936, in Philadelphia to the late Harold and Lillian Scott. She was the eldest of three children and was educated in the Philadelphia public school system.
From 1967 until her passing, Vivian Miller lived on the 1000 block of South 54th Street in Southwest Philadelphia. Her home was a place where all the neighbors and other people from the community knew they could come and get help when they needed assistance with an issue.
Robin Jones, the daughter of Vivian Miller, reflected on how her mother’s life and being an elected official made a mark on her life. “When my Mother first ran for political office, I was away at college attending Kutztown University. It didn’t kick in for me how important this time was in my mother’s life until a little later after I graduated and came back home to Philadelphia and really started paying attention to politics. My mother had a close-knit circle of women political friends that she stayed connected to until her last day. The group included now-retired PA State Legislator Rosita C. Youngblood, retired Philadelphia City Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco, and the late 12th Ward Leader Betty Townes. They were in their own little pack. My Mom also worked a lot with the late West Philadelphia Ward Leader, Carol Campbell.”
Most importantly, what I got from my mother, I would hope all young women learn to have, whether they go into politics, become a businesswoman, or work for someone else–is honesty loyalty, and being dedicated to what you do. So, whenever I’m in a room, I always remember my mother and how she raised me. She always told me when I enter a room-bring my authenticity with me. She was a great manager of money. My Mom probably still had the first dollar she ever made when God called her home. She had a great concept of how to save money. It was really unique, and she passed that down to me and others in the family. I would say her overall character, just watching her and how she moved when she was in a room. She was loyal to who she was loyal to, and she was loyal to a fault. When you add loyalty and authenticity, it creates consistency in your character; you can go back to people, and they know, because you are honest and kept your word, that you are good for whatever deal you may be making.
Despite the demands of being a very busy and accessible elected official, Vivian Miller also found time to work with the 954 Garden Club and Girl Scouts. She was a member of Wayland Memorial Baptist Church, where she was a trustee.
Vivian T. Miller transitioned on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. She was 84.
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