YOUNGSTOWN — William “Shimmie” Miller was known by loved ones for his vibrant spirit and determination — things they’ll remember him for after he fell victim to gun violence last week.
His life was one of hard knocks as he was sentenced to prison in 1993 for involuntary manslaughter. But upon his release in June 2019, Miller embraced a mission to “help fix what he helped break,” by transforming his life and the community he cherished.
His sister, Michelle Drummond, said the two were not related by blood, but he had come into her family’s life as a teenager.
“He had a great connection with my mother, and she started taking care of him because he was on the streets for a while,” she said, remembering him as being “very loud, happy and a big hearted person.”
They grew close in their teen years, but Drummond said it was short-lived after Miller was sentenced to prison for what would be 26 years of his life.
“Even though those times were hard, believe me that I was going to visit him as much as I could,” she said.
She and other family members were there to welcome Miller home with open arms when he was released.
Staying true to his words, Miller connected with Dionne Dowdy-Lacey as a community engagement specialist, who quickly helped set his vision into motion. With Dowdy-Lacey’s support, he organized an anti-violence rally and community events like “Barbers & BBQ,” providing underprivileged children with free haircuts and essential hygiene products. His “Barbers Christmas Bash” ensured that no child went without gifts during the holiday season.
Miller’s dedication gave rise to Will RESPECT INC., encompassing various programs to uplift young men of color. His RESPECT Basketball League opened doors to life skills and job opportunities, while his “From Beefin to Brotherhood” initiative transformed former adversaries into allies. His work extended to the PROS & CONS podcast and Building Freedom Ohio, an organization dedicated to removing barriers for returning citizens.
On the night he was killed, Drummond, said she was spending time with her brother at his home and recalled him leaving to take his niece out in celebration of her graduating from nursing school. About a half-hour after he left, “that’s when I got the phone call,” Drummond said.
She rushed to the intersection of Steel Street and Salt Springs Road, informed that her brother had been shot.
“I was praying that he was still alive, he had been shot before, so in my mind I’m like OK, he’s been shot before, he’s a big guy, so he’ll pull through, I never thought that my brother would be dead,” she said.
A week and several days later, Drummond said dealing with the aftermath of his death has been hard.
“I’m heartbroken, angry, I want to know who would do something like that to my brother because he didn’t bother anyone, he had a big heart,” she said.
Someone familiar with his big-hearted nature was William “Guy” Burney, coordinator of the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence. Burney said he had been a mentor to Miller.
Every couple of weeks he said the two shared a meal and talked. Burney said their mentorship began when Miller contacted him to say he needed a mentor in his life.
“I was so honored,” Burney said.
The news of his slaying left the community leader feeling a heavy wave of emotion coming over him. And a week later, he’s still trying to find the means to process the loss of a friend, mentee and partner in the city of Youngstown’s nonviolence movement.
Burney said the pair met through their mutual interests of putting together events focused on shepherding youth away from the realities of gun violence.
“I began to just watch him and watch how he operated and he was just a light in the community and after a little while of seeing his path we connected on some projects, and then he began to work with us,” he said.
Burney helped work with Miller and D’Aundray Brown, Youngstown Central YMCA executive director, on the RESPECT Basketball League.
“It was very impactful because we were trying to reach a certain population of young people we wanted to keep safe, and not only keep safe, but give information so that they can take a nonviolent path,” Burney said.
That entailed providing social and emotional wellness, along with giving them help with securing employment, supporting their families, teaching them how to be responsible young men, and for some, instilling values that helped them be good fathers.
The two also worked on the “The Village” mentoring program, which Burney said Miller started.
“He would go into schools and he would go into juvenile work with these young folks who didn’t have father figures or had issues they were dealing with,” he said. “His (Miller’s) transformation didn’t happen overnight. He did the work on himself and that’s the important piece because you can only give what you have received and what you’re working on and that’s what he did, internally, externally to be the man he was.”
In the aftermath of the community losing Miller, Burney said he’s still working through the grieving process.
“Every life is so valuable and time is so valuable, but what I’m appreciative about Mr. Miller is that he used his time wisely,” Burney said. “You can’t change your past unfortunately, but you can live now and you can change going forward, and that’s what he did. That was his power.”
One of the last interactions Rev. Lewis Macklin had with Miller was the Sunday before his death.
“He was always embracing, always had an infectious smile,” he said.
Macklin said he had just spoken with his wife regarding the impact he was making in the community. When Macklin received the call to respond to the crime scene, both he and his wife were shocked and heartbroken.
In the wake of his killing, Macklin, a local nonviolence advocate, is challenging the community to not look toward others for change, but like Miller, answer the call themselves.
“He (Miller) didn’t wait to be given permission to be part of his community and take accountability and responsibility. He just did it,” Macklin said.
He said he hopes the tragedy “emboldens people to pick up his (Miller’s) mantle and carry forth.”
The death of Miller came at the backdrop of two other fatal shootings. The violence began earlier that week when an 18-year-old woman, identified as Te’nya Mckinley, was fatally shot during a car meet on Glenwood Avenue near Sherwood Avenue on June 9.
Just two days later, 19-year-old Zariyan Dothard was shot to death in the 500 block of East Judson Avenue on the city’s South Side. A teenage suspect, Lyndale Wilkins Jr., 17, was turned in by family “at the same time,” according to Youngstown Police.
“We are not defined by the shooters, we’re not defined by the choices they make and their actions are not sanctioned by the majority of this community,” Macklin said. “It’s just a few bad apples trying to spoil the whole bunch and we need to deal with them and address them.”
As a community, he said the city cannot be held hostage by the violence, urging those that “know something, to say something,” Macklin said adding, “We can’t be silent conspirators and just hope and let others figure it out. If we know what’s going on and we know who the players are, we need to make it known.”
On Thursday, Crime Stoppers of the Mahoning Valley offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of anyone that played a role in the June 12 slaying of Miller.
“Shimmie strived to make a positive impact on the community, especially youth, and steer people away from a life of violence,” the release states. “Now Crime Stoppers of the Mahoning Valley is imploring anyone with information on Shimmie’s death to call Crime Stoppers at 330-746-2583.Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000.”
Services
Calling hours for William “Shimmie” Miller will take place 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Victory Church, 3899 McCartney Road, Lowellville. A funeral will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Have an interesting story? Contact Chris McBride by email at cmcbride@tribtoday.com. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @TribToday.
Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
