Priscilla Ann Sullenberger Millard

Priscilla Ann Sullenberger Millard, 83, died peacefully Friday, December 30, 2022, after a long and abundant life. She encouraged and inspired all those she met and knew her. Her family and friends were most important to her. Priscilla taught school for 34 years, starting at Alcoa High & Middle Schools (1960-1972), Red Bank Junior High School (1972-74) Everett High School (1974-1977) and Heritage High School (1977-1994), coming out of retirement for several years as an interim teacher at Heritage High and part-time teacher at Maryville Middle School. Many former students have told family members, and Priscilla when she was alive, how much they loved her and appreciated what she taught them about life.

Priscilla was an adventurer, traveling to the U.S.S.R. in 1971 when it was still behind the Iron Curtain as well as traveling to Europe several times. Along with fellow teacher and colleague Terri Bradshaw, Priscilla took 50+ middle school students to Australia and New Zealand on two different occasions. Priscilla made friends wherever she went and had many friends throughout her life, including lifelong Swedish friends met through the Children’s International Summer Village that two of her children participated in.

Priscilla loved animals, having had dogs and cats all her life. She also had a blue jay named Dude and a squirrel named Chipper as pets. Their stories, along with those of other beloved pets, are legendary family lore. Priscilla was a natural born storyteller and loved regaling family members and friends with both past and current stories.

Priscilla was a compassionate person who often helped others in need with food, clothing or other items, whether she knew them or not. She became involved in Dane’s House that was established to help those with drug addictions regain their lives and decorated a room in memory of her sons.

Proceeded in death by her parents Dr. Samuel and Margretta (Smith) Sullenberger; her sons, Steven Carroll Millard and Samuel Bart Millard; her sister Sammie Calfee, and her brother-in-law Charlie Grainger. She is survived by her sons Mike (Donna) Millard, of McMinnville, and Brett (Leanna) Millard, of Alcoa; her daughter, Bonny Millard, of Maryville; grandsons, Garrett Millard, Jake (Leslie) Millard, Adam Millard, Brandon Carper, and Jacob Brackett; granddaughters, Hannah (Kris) Yarlett, April Pierce, and Denise Brackett; several great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandsons; several nieces and nephews; her brother, Blake Sullenberger, of Knoxville; sisters, Mary Sullenberger Grainger, of Atlanta, and Debbie Sullenberger Johnston (Jerald) of Maryville. She leaves behind many cousins and dear friends, including special friends Nancy Peterson, Dottie Berry and Terri Bradshaw.

The family would like to thank the staff at Shannondale of Maryville second floor skilled care, particularly nurse Sherri Steadmon, a former student of Priscilla’s, for their care and concern.

Receiving friends will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2023, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at Maryville Church of Christ, 611 Sherwood Dr., Maryville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dane’s House, True Purpose Ministries, 2628 Morganton Road, Maryville, Tennessee 37801.