Old Ladies' Home Ass'n v. Miller

63 So. 2d 786, 217 Miss. 187, 26 Adv. S. 31, 1953 Miss. LEXIS 422
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedApril 6, 1953
DocketNo. 38666
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 63 So. 2d 786 (Old Ladies' Home Ass'n v. Miller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Old Ladies' Home Ass'n v. Miller, 63 So. 2d 786, 217 Miss. 187, 26 Adv. S. 31, 1953 Miss. LEXIS 422 (Mich. 1953).

Opinion

Ethridge, J.

This case involves the interpretation of a holographic will and, in particular, the question of whether a gift expressly for life, with a direction to sell certain rings of testatrix, and at the death of the life tenant “all remaining” of property is willed to remainderman, implies a power of disposition in the life tenant of both personal and real property.

On October 31, 1950, Mrs. Georgia Miller Byrne executed a will wholly in her own handwriting, as follows:

‘ Georgia
Oct. 31, 1950
To whom it may concern.
I, Georgia Miller Byrne, of sound and sane mind do will and bequeath all of my worldly goods to my Beloved brother, Andy Thompson Miller, for duration of his life time, my rings to be sold, with exception of old fashion cluster wich I have given to Lewis A. Myers, a dear friend, The money from rings to be used for marker for my grave — worded only Georgia Miller Byrne, Beloved daughter of Elizabeth & Elisha Miller, at death of my brother Andy Thompson Miller, all remaining of [193]*193property and effects are to be sold and proceeds given equally divecZ between Old Ladies Home Jackson, Miss, and Old Men’s borne Madison, Miss, in loving memory of my Beloved Mother & Father, a check written to A. T. Miller and signed so can check ont balance in bank.
All my love,
Georgia”

The record does not contain the “check written to A. T. Miller and signed” by testatrix, which is referred to in the last part of the will. However, the briefs state that testatrix attached to the will a check drawn on her bank account payable to the life tenant, Andy Thompson Miller, her brother, and signed by her, but with the date and the amount left blank.

Mrs. Byrne, the testatrix, died on November 16, 1950, sixteen days after the execution of her will. In July 1951, the will was admitted to probate in the Chancery Court of Hinds County, claims were filed against the estate and were paid under court orders, and the estate was administered with the exception of the filing of the final account of Andy Thompson Miller, Administrator, c. t. a. A petition was filed by Miller as life tenant for construction of the will. It averred that under the terms of the will the testatrix made a direct bequest to him of all monies on deposit, and that the will further gave him a life estate with a power of disposition of the testatrix’ real and personal property, with the exception of the rings, and that the Old Ladies’ Home and Old Men’s Home received under the will a remainder estate of any property which might be unconsumed by the life tenant. The Old Ladies’ and Old Men’s Home Associations filed answers to this petition. They stated in substance that the effect of the will was to vest in Miller only a life estate in the money and personal and real property, with no power of disposition in him, and that the Old Men’s and Old Ladies ’ Homes were granted a vested remainder [194]*194in all of this property at the death of'the life tenant Miller.

The parties entered into a stipulation of certain facts. The testatrix’ husband had died in May 1950. There were no children of this marriage. Mrs. Byrne’s father and mother were also dead, and Andy Thompson Miller, the life tenant under her will, would have been her sole heir if she had died intestate. Prior to the death of Mr. .Byrne, he was engaged in the business of restaurant keeper and had been employed by various hotels over the south. In August 1948, Mrs. Byrne purchased a residence in the City of Jackson for a price of $12,500.00. On October 24, 1950, she borrowed from an insurance company the sum of $7,700.00, and for security gave that company a deed of trust on this residence. The monthly payments on the deed of trust are approximately $60.90, for a period of fifteen years. The briefs of counsel reflect that this property contains three apartments, being a “three-plex”, and its value is $12,000.00. Before the death of Mrs. Byrne, the two apartments in this 'house which were rented by her brought in a rent of $100.00 per month. Apparent^ Mrs. Byrne occupied the other apartment. The value of the household and kitchen furniture in the residence was about $1,000.00, and consisted of one dining room suite, two bedroom suites and ordinary kitchen equipment.

At the death of testatrix, her bank account was in the sum of $3,038.91. After various expenditures were made by the administrator following her death, the balance on deposit was $1,147.15. State, county, and municipal taxes for 1950 were $126.49, and for 1951, $238.76. Insurance on the building of $10,000.00 requires an annual premium of $55.00. The residence is in fair condition, but essential repairs will cost about $385.00.

Mrs. Byrne’s only brother, the appellee, Andy Thompson Miller, lives in McComb, Mississippi, and at the date of testatrix’ death was fifty-two years of age. He works [195]*195for a railroad as a relief clerk and over a period of the past fourteen years has earned an average monthly salary of $174.89. When he reaches the age of sixty-five, he can retire on a monthly pension of $75.00. Miller is married and has one child, who herself has been married since 1947. He owns a home in McComb in which he and his wife live. Its cost in 1929 was $3,800.00. There is a deed of trust on it for $650.00. Since 1936, he has been ill from various causes, as has his wife. The total amount of their doctor’s bills since January 1949 is $1,808.00, of which he has paid $533.00. It was stipulated that the testatrix was fully aware of the extent of the illness suffered by Miller and his wife and of the income of her brother; and that these problems were often discussed during testatrix’ frequent visits with the Miller family.

The chancery court’s decree of May 21, 1952, upon the foregoing record, adjudicated that the will had the following effects:

(a) A direct bequest without limitation to Miller of all monies on deposit; (b) a life estate with a power of disposition in Miller of all of testatrix’ personal and real property excepting the rings; and (c) “a vested remainder in the proceeds of the sale of all assets, real and personal, which remain following the death of the life tenant, is vested in the Old Men’s Home and the Old Ladies’ Home.” The decree further provided that Miller as life tenant could have and manage all of the property as in his judgment appeared best, and that he was vested “with a general power of disposition over the same with full power to convey in fee simple absolute any of said property for any purpose other than for the purpose of squandering said property or keeping the same from vesting in the remainderman after his death.”

We have concluded that the chancellor was correct in holding that Miller was given an unlimited, direct bequest of the testatrix’ money, and a life estate in the [196]*196real and personal property, with remainder in appellants, but. that lie erred in implying from the will and the surrounding circumstances that Miller was also vested with a power of disposition of the real and personal property.

After claims and obligations of the estate were paid, testatrix’ estate had on deposit in a bank the sum of $1,147.15.

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Bluebook (online)
63 So. 2d 786, 217 Miss. 187, 26 Adv. S. 31, 1953 Miss. LEXIS 422, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/old-ladies-home-assn-v-miller-miss-1953.