Richard struggled with the idea of the sisters being divided.
He asked whether someone could take all nine.
The suggestion seemed unrealistic to those around him. Raising nine infants required enormous financial, emotional, and practical resources. Richard, however, had already made up his mind.
He decided to become their father.
Building A Family From Scratch
The years that followed demanded extraordinary commitment.
Richard reportedly sold possessions, worked additional shifts, and took on extra jobs to cover the growing household expenses. He learned how to prepare bottles, care for nine babies, manage mountains of laundry, and eventually even learned to braid their hair.
The family also faced judgment from people around them.
Some questioned Richard’s decision, while others made hurtful comments about a white father raising nine Black daughters. Instead of allowing those attitudes to determine their future, Richard focused on providing the girls with stability and affection.
Inside the Miller home, the children gradually developed their own personalities and interests.
