The first CPD female officer on force dies

lice Department, she was “always straight laced.”

“She was just a good person, and we’ll miss her a lot,” Rush said.

Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said he never got the opportunity to serve with her directly in the department, but when he was previously a Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy they worked together often.

“She was well loved and respected by everyone in the community,” Newsome said.

He said he spoke with her husband following her death last week and shared many memories of her time in the department and service in Cedartown overall.

“She’ll always be a part of our family,” Newsome said.

Miller was hired onto the force by former Chief W.M. Moss, and served for many year’s as not only the first female officers, but also one of the few bilingual officers in the county.

Following her retirement, Miller continued her service to others as a witness and victim’s advocate in the Tallapoosa Circuit District Attorney’s office.

Miller is survived by her husband of 39 years, her daughter Anna Pelletier, her mother Angie McDonald; her brother and sister in law Robert and Molly McDonald; sisters and brothers in law Alice Gilbert Lopez and Norma and Dionicio Espinosa. Her father, Robert McDonald; brother, Eddie Joe McDonald; sister, Frances McDonald preceded her in death.

A celebration of Miller’s life will be held on March 10 at 2 p.m. at Smith and Miller Funeral Home in Cedartown, with the Rev. Trey Stephens and Rev. Clay Horton officiating. Family will receive friends the hour prior.

Those wishing to remember Miller can make memorial donations on her behalf to either Homestead Hospice of Cartersville or Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.