Classic Kansas poet William Stafford and Lawrence writer and advocate Ronda J. Miller will be remembered during an event Saturday at the Watkins Museum of History.
Miller died December 2024 at the age of 72 in Lawrence. She first moved to town as a high school graduate in 1980, and she “worked as a union organizer, restaurateur at The Casbah, commercial fashion model, police officer, and early childhood educator for 30 years,” according to her obituary.
Following her retirement, she entered a 15-year writing stretch during which she authored five books, contributed to many others and participated in author events statewide with the Kanas Author’s Club. She was working on a memoir when she died.
“During the final three years of her life, she taught creative writing to incarcerated people,” her obituary reads. “She advocated for countless organizations and causes, hosting many events. Ronda profoundly impacted the local writing community and left a lasting legacy of poetry.”
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Stafford was born in Hutchinson in 1914. He was was a prolific American poet and pacifist. Read more about him in this profile and check out his books at the Lawrence Public Library here.
The Watkins’ remembrance event for Miller and Stafford will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at the museum, 1047 Massachusetts St.
“Readings by numerous poets will include Stafford’s work, Miller’s work, original work of attendees, as well as shared remembrances of Ronda,” according to the event page.
Bards Against Hunger will host the evening as a fundraiser. Copies of the “Bards Against Hunger: Kansas City” poetry anthology will be for sale, plus they will accept cash to benefit Just Food, a Douglas County food pantry.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
