JULIA ELMIRA CANADY

Julia Elmira Canady was the fifth child, third daughter, born to William Ervin and Susan Bacon Canady. She was born on March 8, 1875 in Bryan County, near Pembroke, Georgia.

The community of farm families surrounding the small town of Pembroke were a class of thrifty, small farmers who maintained themselves and their families by their own labor. They were self-reliant, fairly prosperous, and thoroughly independent. They formed a friendly special group who shared in the happiness and the sorrows of their neighbors. This was the ideal place to live and rear a family among these excellent and unpretentious folk.

Julia's parents were descendants of that strong, vigorous, and industrious group of early settlers in Georgia. They had many virtues including generosity, hospitality, integrity, a strong Judeo-Christian work ethic, and a deep, binding family love that opened to encompass others. Julia, as well as her brothers and sisters, were strongly bound by ties of affection which endured to the end of their lives.

Julia grew up on her father's farm, surrounded on all sides by numerous relatives and friends, as was usually the case on family-owned farms. Farming was a family affair. There were no slaves at this time because of their emancipation. They did all their own work. In later years, Julia would not remember the hard work and drudgery, but a time of sharing the rewards of labor with her sister, Susan. These two sisters were the closest in age and usually did their chores together. As they scrubbed their floors on their knees, they sang, and when they were finished, declared that they had the whitest floors in Pembroke.

By the time Julia reached young womanhood, her gentle ways and friendly manner had gained her many friends among the older people as well as the young. She was a good listener and people came to her with their troubles. They always left with a sense of relief having shared their burdens with someone who was ready and willing to listen.

Julia, like her older sister, Florence, learned to play the organ, and played for the Baptist Church as well as in the homes of friends. Usually when she played, a group of friends would gather around the organ and sing along. She also was popular with the guys and had many "beaux". Her sister said she was the prettiest girl in town and was called The Belle of Bryan County. Julia was enjoying her life and her home so much that she turned down proposals of marriage.

When Susan Bacon Canady, Julia's mother, became seriously ill, it became necessary for the family to move to Savannah where better medical care was available. Julia's father, William Canady, sold his farm and moved the family to Savannah. Julia moved with her parents and went to work for a company that made men's pants. Her job was sewing in the pockets for which she was paid piece work.

Although the forelady was always looking over their shoulders, Julia ran races with a good friend of hers sitting at the next sewing machine to see who would sew in the most pockets and make the most money. Through all the joys and sorrows of her life, she never lost her self confidence.

The family home in Savannah was a two story house which they rented. One day when Julia's brother Lonnie was sitting on the front porch of her house, two men carrying suitcases approached him and said they had just arrived in Savannah and were looking for a place to stay. Lonnie told them he would ask his sisters if they would rent them a room. The sisters agreed and the two men moved in. These men were the brothers of Levi Miller. They had come to Savannah from Massachusetts to find work. They soon wrote to Levi, a boilermaker by trade, and told him to come to Savannah also. They mentioned that he could stay with them. Shortly afterwards, Levi arrived in Savannah and found a job. He also fell in love with Julia and the two were married in Southside Baptist Church on October 4, 1906, by the Reverend D.S. Edenfield, pastor of the church. The two brothers returned to Massachusetts.

Soon after their marriage, Levi's work with the railroad resulted in their move to Jacksonville, Florida. Three daughters were born to them in Jacksonville. The first daughter, Mary, died in infancy.

Levi's work later took him to Waycross, Georgia, where their son, Joseph Levi, was born. Soon the opportunity came for them to move back to Savannah, and they were happy to return. This time, Savannah would be their permanent residence. They bought a home on 34th Street, two houses from Price Street. This is the place their children would always remember as home. Levi's relatives lived in Massachusetts, but he accepted Julia's family as his own, and they were always welcome in his house. He gave his family love and security.

Julia loved pretty things. She planted a flower garden in her back yard, and there were always fresh flowers in a vase in her living room. She had an old tin box into which she would put every dime she could spare. She liked to surprise her family and used this money to buy something new for their home. She never ran out of plans, and the old tin box never ran out of money. The heart of Julia's home was her kitchen. There she entertained family and friends while she cooked. Any and everyone there at mealtime was invited to stay and join them for the meal. She was famous for her homebaked bread.

In her house there was a permanent stairway leading from the kitchen to a big attic with windows. Julia had a bed put there and it was not unusual for a guest to spend the night in her attic.

Every night the family knelt together for family prayer. Levi led them in the prayers and they prayed together after which each person would silently pray their own prayer. Guests spending the night were always invited to join in the family prayers, and they always accepted.

On a page in her Bible, Julia wrote these verses from the Book of Psalms: Trust in the Lord and do good, so shall thou be fed; Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thy heart. This was the rule of her life. Her pastor said of her that she knew how to live, and summarizing her life, it can be said: She had lived well.

The children of Levi and Julia Canady Miller are:

1. Mary Miller b. 1907,      d. 1907

2. Adeline Miller b. 8/1/1908 m. Edward Just Limehouse
    Edward J. Limehouse, Jr. 1/26/29 m. Pamela Philips
                  Kelly m. Robert Gaines
                            Katheryn Alice 6/18/91
                            Donny

3. Rosalie Miller b. 11/18/1911 m. 1) Earl Pardue
        Rosalie m. William D. Tucker
                  Barbara m. Tony McCallie
                            Cathyrn Diane 12/13/83
                            Celeste 11/14/_
                                      Kayla
                                      Mary Delaine
                  Vickie m. Donald Hodge
                            Benjamin 9/8/82
                            Alexandria
                  Patricia 6/2/69 m. William Fraps
                            Anne Marie 1998-1998 
        Dotty Pardue m. Herman Hohnerlein
                  Keith
                  Kevin
                  Kristen
    m. 2) Truman Ward

4. Joseph Levi Miller b. 4/20/1917, d. 4/16/1990 m. Frances James
        Julie Miller
        Gloria Miller, m. Max Clayton
                  D'Anna 
        Mary Miller m.. John M. Pafford
                  John Monroe, Jr. 1980
                  Zachary Miller 
        Joseph L. Miller, Jr. b. 1945, d. 1945
        James Miller 

Thanks to Adeline Limehouse and Hoyt Canady for the information herein.