Father James Norman Miller, a retired priest of the Diocese of Nashville who served as the pastor of St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows Church in downtown Nashville for 31 years, died on Oct. 5 in Nashville at the age of 92.
A funeral Mass, celebrated by Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, was held on Oct. 13 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. A burial service at Calvary Cemetery followed the Mass.
Father Miller was born in Nashville on March 26, 1933. He attended the Cathedral School as a child. He was a 1951 graduate of Father Ryan High School. Later, he attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and St. Bernard Seminary in Cullman, Ala.
Father Miller was ordained by Bishop William L. Adrian on May 23, 1959, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. He served as a priest in Middle, West, and East Tennessee for 66 years.
In addition to serving as pastor of St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows Church (1981-2012) until his retirement from parish administration, Father Miller’s assignments included associate pastor of Holy Name Church in East Nashville (1959), associate pastor of the Cathedral of the Incarnation (1967-1971), pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Franklin (1971-1973), and associate pastor of Christ the King Church (1973-1981). He also had assignments in Chattanooga and Memphis (1959-1967).
Father Miller served as chaplain at Park View Hospital (1977-1983), West Side Hospital (1977-1983), Parthenon Pavilion Hospital (1977-1983), and Veterans Administration Medical Center (1983-2014).