Finding & Filling Needs: Millers use annuities to support Christian education at Lipscomb

The practice of finding a need and filling it is nothing new for Don and Roberta Miller of Lynchburg, Virginia. The couple has spent their lives doing just that in their careers and personal lives. They strongly believe in Lipscomb University's mission of Christian higher education and have designated more than $1.2 million to the university through charitable gift annuities.

As a result of their annuity agreements with Lipscomb, the Millers receive a fixed income each year for the remainder of their lives. When the annuities end, the remaining principal passes to the university.

These types of gifts also provide donors numerous tax and financial benefits.

Life income gifts are "gifts that pay you back," and Don said it's comforting to know they are receiving money as a result of their giving.

The Millers' decision to use planned giving to support Lipscomb stems from their belief in the institution's mission as well as their life experiences. They draw from their upbringing, which involved their individual families' strong participation in church and lessons learned growing up as part of a church community.

Roberta grew up on a farm in rural western Kentucky, and the lessons of giving came early.

"I grew up around positive people, raised in the church and was surrounded by those who understood the importance of teaching the youth," she said.

What brought these two together years ago was a get-together planned by mutual friends. Upon returning from a mission trip in New Zealand, Roberta accepted a friend's invitation to share her 35 mm slides of the journey over dinner one evening. "My brother's bachelor friend Don is coming over for dinner, too," her friend announced. And as the saying goes, the rest is history. They married in April 1968 and recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

Roberta and Don have shared several common interests since that dinner—travel, hobbies, church and mission work, and the love of supporting education.

Roberta completed her undergraduate studies at Murray State University, and Don received his bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech. They both received master's degrees and Doctor of Education degrees from Vanderbilt University.

Roberta spent her career as a medical librarian and worked as part of health care teams at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the University of Kentucky School of Medicine and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She served as director of Henrico County Public Libraries and later as the assistant state librarian for the Library of Virginia.

Don served as the Deputy Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia for 18 years, serving under four different state governors.

When the couple discovered the need to provide research services for private medical offices and hospitals, their entrepreneurial spirit led them to launch Resources, Inc. They spent 42 years guiding the company, which employed nearly 75 people. They retired near the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Ever the lifelong learners, the Millers completed post-graduate work in gerontology, and also completed a program to become lay ministers and serve small rural congregations in Virginia. The couple also teaches Bible classes at Westminster Canterbury, the retirement community in which they live.

Christian education remains a top priority, and Roberta's ties to Lipscomb through family and friendships with the A.M. Burton and Dr. Burton Grant families have always kept Lipscomb at the top of her mind.

The Millers' decision to use charitable gift annuities as a way to give not only fulfills their desire to support Christian education, but also provides the couple a steady income and enables them to do what they love best—serving and teaching others.

"People need to be taught to read the Bible, study the Scriptures and teach others," Roberta said. "A great concern of ours is that we don't fail to do what we should do by being the church."

If you would like more information about charitable gift annuities at Lipscomb, you can click here to view this on the website. Or you can contact the Center for Estate and Gift Planning by phone at 615-339-6482 or by email at [email protected].