The Journey
November 17, 2020
Richard Anthony Miles, I was born June 5, 1955, to the union Herbert M. Miles and Willa R. Berry Miles in Detroit, Michigan. He became affectionately known as "Sun."
Richard's educational engine began in the Detroit Public School system. During his primary years, he attended Rutherford Elementary and Dossin Elementary School through the third grade. As opportunity would afford, his engine began to pick up steam; he and his parents relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 1964. There, he attended 54th Street Elementary, Orville Wright Junior High, and Westchester High. He became interested in gymnastics and became a part of the Westchester team. Switching tracks, this journey also gave way to the beginning of his appreciation for classical music. He started with the guitar, naturally, as his father also played the guitar. As he continued to explore the world of music, he began his study with the double bass. Richard's passion for music led him to volunteer at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Music Hall in Los Angeles as an usher. He was a participant of The American Youth Symphony under the direction of Mehli Mehta and a member of the Chambray Chorale.
Richard continued his academic studies and received his Bachelor's Degree in Bio-Chemistry from California State University, Los Angeles, in June 1979. He then went on to receive his Medical Degree from the University of California, Irvine, in June 1984. As many of his friends and family still resided in Michigan, he decided to return to Michigan, where he completed his internship and residency, specializing in family medicine at Wayne State University, Detroit.
Richard loved caring for others. This gift and calling were surely from the Lord. He began working as an attending physician in Emergency Medicine and Occupational Health Services at the Detroit Medical Center. In 2009, Richard switched tracks and accepted a position at the MDOC Men's Facility and then the Men's Medical Clinic. As he began to find his niche, he became employed by Integrated Visiting Physician Solution LLC (IVPS) in Southfield, MI. In addition to being able to meet the medical needs of his patients, it allowed him to indulge in one of his loves – driving. He loved to be out on the road! There were no limits. As he began to focus more on serving his local community, he took a position with the Detroit/Wayne County Prison System, where he worked until he transitioned from mortal to immortality.
Richard was not without hope. He accepted Jesus Christ into his life and was baptized at Oakridge Baptist Church in New Hebron, MS, at the age of eleven. Over the years, he began to mature in God's word and was later licensed and ordained as a minister of the gospel. Upon his return to Michigan, he would waste no time reconnecting with a local body of believers. He was guided to assist in several ministries over time: Fellowship Institutional Baptist Church (the late Pastor Samuel Berry, Jr), The Body of Christ Christian Center (Pastor Kenneth Tate), and his home church, First Baptist World Changers Church (Apostle and Pastor Caldwell). While not an "official" member of Mt. Zion New Covenant Baptist Church (Bishop Charles Middleton), he served there also. Richard was very talented and gifted in many areas. His labor in these cells included his involvement in the Worship and Arts Ministry, Ministerial Alliance, Media Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, and The B.O.M.B. Squad. ALL can attest to his faithfulness to God through his servanthood to God's people.
Richard enjoyed life. Some of his appreciations included merely sitting alongside a railroad track watching the trains go by, going on road trips, anywhere and a friendly game of Bid Whiz with family and friends (he was very good at it too!).
Richard made his transition on Resurrection Sunday, April 12, 2020. Hallelujah! He was proceeded in death by his father, Herbert Miles.
He will forever be in our hearts. Loving always: Beloved mother, Willa Ree (John), and cherished wife, Roslyn Annette; his children— Richard II and Michelle Miles, Thierkeld and Shante Miles, Marjace and Virginia Miles, Marchelle and Quenton Ross, Rashard Anthony Miles, Sir David Joshua Berry, Sir Devin Josiah Berry, and Miss Faith Victoria Berry; six grandchildren, Jordan-Lin, Condoleezza Selon, Martin Mandela, William Graham, Aviyah Lydia, and Quincy Alexander; one brother, Raymond Wright; close cousins Rita and Brian Leverett; four brothers-in-law, 6 sisters-in-law; Jan Nunley (mother of his oldest sons) and Monica Yabuku (mother of Marchelle and Rashard), FBWCC and MZNCBC families and a host of extended family (Buckley and Berry) and friends.
Richard's educational engine began in the Detroit Public School system. During his primary years, he attended Rutherford Elementary and Dossin Elementary School through the third grade. As opportunity would afford, his engine began to pick up steam; he and his parents relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 1964. There, he attended 54th Street Elementary, Orville Wright Junior High, and Westchester High. He became interested in gymnastics and became a part of the Westchester team. Switching tracks, this journey also gave way to the beginning of his appreciation for classical music. He started with the guitar, naturally, as his father also played the guitar. As he continued to explore the world of music, he began his study with the double bass. Richard's passion for music led him to volunteer at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Music Hall in Los Angeles as an usher. He was a participant of The American Youth Symphony under the direction of Mehli Mehta and a member of the Chambray Chorale.
Richard continued his academic studies and received his Bachelor's Degree in Bio-Chemistry from California State University, Los Angeles, in June 1979. He then went on to receive his Medical Degree from the University of California, Irvine, in June 1984. As many of his friends and family still resided in Michigan, he decided to return to Michigan, where he completed his internship and residency, specializing in family medicine at Wayne State University, Detroit.
Richard loved caring for others. This gift and calling were surely from the Lord. He began working as an attending physician in Emergency Medicine and Occupational Health Services at the Detroit Medical Center. In 2009, Richard switched tracks and accepted a position at the MDOC Men's Facility and then the Men's Medical Clinic. As he began to find his niche, he became employed by Integrated Visiting Physician Solution LLC (IVPS) in Southfield, MI. In addition to being able to meet the medical needs of his patients, it allowed him to indulge in one of his loves – driving. He loved to be out on the road! There were no limits. As he began to focus more on serving his local community, he took a position with the Detroit/Wayne County Prison System, where he worked until he transitioned from mortal to immortality.
Richard was not without hope. He accepted Jesus Christ into his life and was baptized at Oakridge Baptist Church in New Hebron, MS, at the age of eleven. Over the years, he began to mature in God's word and was later licensed and ordained as a minister of the gospel. Upon his return to Michigan, he would waste no time reconnecting with a local body of believers. He was guided to assist in several ministries over time: Fellowship Institutional Baptist Church (the late Pastor Samuel Berry, Jr), The Body of Christ Christian Center (Pastor Kenneth Tate), and his home church, First Baptist World Changers Church (Apostle and Pastor Caldwell). While not an "official" member of Mt. Zion New Covenant Baptist Church (Bishop Charles Middleton), he served there also. Richard was very talented and gifted in many areas. His labor in these cells included his involvement in the Worship and Arts Ministry, Ministerial Alliance, Media Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, and The B.O.M.B. Squad. ALL can attest to his faithfulness to God through his servanthood to God's people.
Richard enjoyed life. Some of his appreciations included merely sitting alongside a railroad track watching the trains go by, going on road trips, anywhere and a friendly game of Bid Whiz with family and friends (he was very good at it too!).
Richard made his transition on Resurrection Sunday, April 12, 2020. Hallelujah! He was proceeded in death by his father, Herbert Miles.
He will forever be in our hearts. Loving always: Beloved mother, Willa Ree (John), and cherished wife, Roslyn Annette; his children— Richard II and Michelle Miles, Thierkeld and Shante Miles, Marjace and Virginia Miles, Marchelle and Quenton Ross, Rashard Anthony Miles, Sir David Joshua Berry, Sir Devin Josiah Berry, and Miss Faith Victoria Berry; six grandchildren, Jordan-Lin, Condoleezza Selon, Martin Mandela, William Graham, Aviyah Lydia, and Quincy Alexander; one brother, Raymond Wright; close cousins Rita and Brian Leverett; four brothers-in-law, 6 sisters-in-law; Jan Nunley (mother of his oldest sons) and Monica Yabuku (mother of Marchelle and Rashard), FBWCC and MZNCBC families and a host of extended family (Buckley and Berry) and friends.