Elizabeth Miley Latella, 77, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, passed away, surrounded by love, while visiting family in Connecticut on April 23rd, 2026. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She dedicated her life to her family, helping others, and her passions, gardening, teaching, and philanthropy. She was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on January 20th, 1949, the daughter of the late Patrick Dubbs Miley and Frances Patrick. In addition to her parents, she was preceded by death by many more loving aunts and uncles and relatives. She is survived by her husband of almost 56 years, Donald, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, her daughter, Liza, her son-in-law, Marshall, her grandchildren, Marshall and Baker of Darien, Connecticut, her daughter, Leah Latella, her son-in-law, Alex Scott of Iowa City, Iowa, her brother, Eugene Miley of Beaver and loving nephews, nieces, and relatives.
Elizabeth spent her childhood in Brighton Township and Beaver and every summer at her grandparents’ home in Oxford, Georgia. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Emory University and received a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Georgia. She taught Special Education in Georgia and Tennessee. She was very involved in her community throughout her life, always with joy and guided by her faith in God. She was an active member of Highland Presbyterian Church, the Women’s Circle, the Bible Study Fellowship, the Fayetteville Garden Club, the Fayetteville Symphony, and other organizations. She served as a docent at the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion and volunteered as a cuddler for premature babies in the NICU at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. She loved playing mahjong with her friends. She particularly loved holidays, entertaining, and getting the family together at the beach. She served in many leadership capacities during her husband Donald’s career in the United States Army. As a commander’s wife, she was at the forefront of family life, coordinating all officers’ wives’ activities, communications during deployments, and supporting the health and welfare of all soldier families, even conducting bread-making classes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The CARE Clinic in Fayetteville, North Carolina. For more information, visit: www.thecareclinic.org. Elizabeth will be remembered for her thoughtfulness, her bright presence, energy, and devotion to family and friends.
Elizabeth was special and will be deeply missed. A celebration of her life will take place on Friday, May 8th, at 10 a.m. at Highland Presbyterian Church, 111 Highland Avenue, Fayetteville, North Carolina, with a reception following in the fellowship hall. She will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. (and/or Arlington, Virginia) at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver.