Lenora Ann Miller Sublett, 89, of Hampton Cove, died Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care.
She was born in the Big Cove community on February 20, 1933, to William Lucien and Mary Frances Drake Miller, and was the last surviving of their eight children.
She was a 1950 graduate of Madison County High School and worked briefly for her uncle, Pat Miller, in his downtown Huntsville insurance office. She also was a former kindergarten aide at Madison County Elementary School in Gurley and a certified American Red Cross school nurse there.
She met her future husband, Robert, at a high school basketball game and their first date was at Zesto Drive-In in Five Points, which now is 1892 Restaurant. They married November 5, 1955. Together, they developed Robert L. Sublett Farms in Little Cove, Big Cove and Owens Cross Roads, growing cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat. They enjoyed traveling nationwide with the American Soybean Association.
Mrs. Sublett was a lifelong member of Big Cove Presbyterian Church and was its oldest member. She was a former elder, Vacation Bible School director, nursery keeper, and member of the United Presbyterian Women.
She had a vast knowledge of Big Cove history that she shared with her family and friends and told many a colorful story of growing up in a houseful of children, and of cousins and friends who often stayed overnight and on weekends.
She was a devoted mother who spent years taking her two children to piano lessons, band practice, cheerleader practice and football games and never missed any of their activities, including traveling to every Auburn home football game for four years. She also attended most every event that involved her grandchildren, who once talked her into rollerblading when she was in her 70s.
She loved wildflowers and gardening and was an avid birdwatcher who could identify every species by song rather than by sight. She was an excellent Southern cook who, more often than not, used “a pinch of this and a dab of that” instead of following a recipe.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings, William Lucien Jr., Rodney, Kenneth and Gwendolyn Miller, Sophie Brooks, Shirley Harper and Emily Deaton.
Survivors are her son, Barry Sublett of Huntsville; her daughter, Elizabeth Faison (George) of Decatur; grandchildren, David Lauderdale of Hampton Cove and Amanda Lauderdale of Nashville; sister-in-law, Dee Miller of Owens Cross Roads; and 20 nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, June 17 at 10AM at Huntsville First United Methodist Church. The funeral will follow at 11AM with Rev. Bill Crosby, Rev. Byron Vance and Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with Rev. Kim Mitchel performing the committal. The service will be live-streamed at https://huntsvillefirst.org/funerals/
Pallbearers will be Dr. George Faison, Richard Deaton, Gary Finley, Thomas Blakemore, Bert Moore and Deke Damson.
Memorials can be made to Big Cove Presbyterian Church, 175 Campground Road, Brownsboro, AL 35741; the Organ Fund at Huntsville First United Methodist Church, 120 Greene St. S.E., Huntsville, AL 35801; or Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care, 10000 Serenity Lane, Huntsville, AL 35803.
