From CJ Robinson District Attorney – 19th Circuit ·
The funeral service for Caydee Grace Miller was a beautiful celebration of her life. I have been close with her family for over 26 years. Her grandfather was my high school vice-principal / principal, her father coached me in football / baseball and played church / independent softball with me, her mother has asked me to read to her elementary school classes, and her brother (when he was a child) gave me inspiration for many devotions with his propensity for making choices that were 100% going to end with a spanking.
I remember when Caydee Grace was born and I watched her grow up into a beautiful, intelligent, and determined young woman. She interned for the District Attorney’s Office last summer and did a great job. Caydee Grace did so well, I was able to send her to all three counties and assign her tasks that interns typically wouldn’t be asked to do. She did those assignments with joy, with enthusiasm, and even finished all of them before her deadlines.
Over the course of several weeks, I had the opportunity to discuss some of the intricacies of the cases she observed. I was impressed with her ability to think critically and I could clearly see how her spiritual, moral, and ethical convictions motivated her to seek the truth and pursue justice alongside our team. I remember one afternoon I walked in the Chilton Office and about 6 employees were discussing a case where a change in the applicable law was imminent and once enacted, would result in a defendant going free on a technicality. I explained to her that we work in the “legal system” not the “justice system” because we always follow the law, but unfortunately not every case ends with justice being served. Collectively, when it seemed like the group working on the case was out of ideas, Caydee Grace came to me and said, “This isn’t right. We have to do something… we can’t just quit! We have to keep working…we have to make this right!” She was correct…her attitude encouraged our team keep working and we found a way!
She was planning on returning to the DA’s Office this summer. I told her that she was already part of our work family and whenever she completed her education, I had a job for her… because she “got it”. Caydee Grace was only with us for a short time, but she embraced the spirit of a Bible verse I routinely share with our team; Isiah 6:8…”I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me.”
I will remember her as a rising star who was loved by everyone. My heart hurts for her family and I pray I never know how they feel right now. I rejoice in knowing she is with her Heavenly Father and one day we will join her in the presence of the Almighty God. Until that day, we will have pain, we will have sorrow, we will miss her dearly…but God has told us He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 5:13) and He assured us “in Me you will have peace, in the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
I don’t know why God chose to call her home so soon. I can only trust His word is true when the Apostle Paul said, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose.“ (Romans 8:28) That doesn’t mean I will ever know or understand “why” she had to go at such a young age, but God explicitly told us ”For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.“ (Isaiah 55:9)
Caydee Grace Miller, will never be forgotten by her family, her friends, her classmates, and her co-workers at the District Attorney’s Office.
