Obituary: Remembering Civil Rights Activist, Architect Melvin Miller

“For nearly 60 years, Melvin Miller was a fixture in Alexandria, known as a civil rights activist and the architect of affordable housing across the city. A longtime leader of the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority, Miller died suddenly May 10 at the age of 83.

“His commitment to equal rights and justice permeated everything he did,” said ARHA executive director and CEO Roy Priest, a friend of Miller’s for 45 years. “From serving on the school board to equity in education, Melvin was committed to making sure people were treated with respect and dignity.”

Born Albert Melvin Miller on Nov. 14, 1931 in Savannah, Ga., Miller grew up in Haddonfield, N.J., where he graduated from high school at 16. He went on to attend St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C.

“It was the first place where people made me think I could do something meaningful,” Miller said in later years.

He graduated from Howard University law school in 1955 and moved with his wife Eula to Alexandria in 1958 after serving two years in the army.

His criminal law practice quickly turned to civil rights activism as he did pro bono work on school desegregation issues. Miller served as spokesperson for the Secret Seven, a group of African Americans who met regularly to study issues affecting their community and work to improve the situation.”