Barbara “Bashia” Miller

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, what would have been her 71st wedding anniversary, Barbara “Bashia” Miller passed peacefully in her Southold home surrounded by loved ones and entered the presence of her Heavenly Father. Born on Sept. 2, 1936 in Flushing, Queens, to Josephine and Edward Klein.

Barbara lived a full life raising six children with her husband Jim Miller Sr. She was a hard working partner in the family commercial fishing business and on the family farm. She ran the family’s floating retail fish store with her daughters, while her husband and sons caught lobsters and fish. Later on she would become the first office secretary and then president of Marine Pollution Control Inc., which later was renamed Miller Environmental Group Inc.

She was a devoted and beloved grandmother to 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Her love for her family was only surpassed by her love for the Lord. Barbara was a warrior in every sense of the word. She was a fierce protector of all those she loved and was diligent in teaching her children and grandchildren the importance of family unity, responsibility, work ethic, commitment and contribution to community and fairness.

Barbara defied the odds many times and lived a full long life of nearly 90 years. She is survived by her six children James Miller Jr. and his wife Deborah, Dr. Barbara Gaines and her husband Dr. John Gaines, Glen Miller and his wife Susan, Mark Miller and his wife Biriçim, Tracey Orlando and her husband Vincent, and Jenniffer Wheeler and her husband Charles; her 14 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; countless nieces and nephews; and Maia Khutsishvili, her devoted caretaker and friend of many years. She was predeceased by her cherished husband James Miller Sr.

Visitation will be on Monday, Aug.17 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck located at 13805 Main Road (Route 25), Mattituck, NY 11952. Religious service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Mattituck Presbyterian Church located at 12605 Main Road Mattituck, NY 11952 followed by burial at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery, 4017 Main Bayview Avenue in Southold. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mattituck Presbyterian Church or Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation.

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