By Tn Tribune
The Tennessee Tribune family mourns the passing of its founder, publisher and chief executive officer, Rosetta Miller Perry, who passed away Friday, June 26, 2026. She was 91.
A trailblazing publisher, civil rights pioneer and entrepreneur, Miller-Perry dedicated her life to ensuring the stories, achievements and voices of Tennessee’s African American community were told with accuracy, dignity and purpose. Before founding the Tennessee Tribune, she spent more than 25 years in public service, including working for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and serving with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In 1991, after being unable to secure financing from local banks, Miller-Perry invested $70,000 of her personal savings to launch the Tennessee Tribune. Under her leadership, the newspaper grew into one of Tennessee’s most influential Black-owned newspapers and a trusted voice for civil rights, community advocacy and Black-owned businesses. She later moved the newspaper’s headquarters to historic Jefferson Street, establishing its permanent home in the heart of Nashville’s historic Black community.
She was also founder of the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce and charter member of Nashville’s Les Gemmes.
The work Mrs. Miller-Perry began more than three decades ago will continue. In the coming days, the Tennessee Tribune will publish additional stories celebrating her extraordinary life, enduring legacy and immeasurable contributions to journalism, civil rights and the communities she loved.
Funeral arrangements and additional information will be shared as they become available.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Civil Rights
Long before she became one of Tennessee’s most respected publishers, Miller-Perry was helping shape history.
Born July 7, 1934, in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, she served in the United States Navy before earning her undergraduate degree from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis. She was among the first African American students to graduate from the university before continuing her education at Howard University School of Law.
Her commitment to equality led to a distinguished career in public service. She worked for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights before serving with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As a federal observer for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Miller-Perry was stationed in Memphis during the 1968 sanitation workers strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Friends and colleagues often recalled that she also marched with Dr. King during the Civil Rights Movement, experiences that shaped her lifelong commitment to justice and equality.
Building a Newspaper With Purpose
After retiring from federal service, Miller-Perry turned her attention to publishing, but her mission extended far beyond producing a newspaper.
She launched Contempora magazine in 1990 before founding the Tennessee Tribune the following year with a vision of highlighting the accomplishments of African Americans and other underserved communities.
“I wanted our children to see that we had lawyers, doctors, preachers, TV anchors and so forth,” Miller-Perry said during a 2019 interview with WKRN News 2. “So somebody can say, ‘I want to be just like Anne Holt.’”
That vision became the guiding principle of the Tennessee Tribune. Under Miller-Perry’s leadership, the newspaper chronicled not only the challenges facing the community but also celebrated its successes, ensuring generations of readers saw positive stories that were often overlooked by mainstream media.
Creating Opportunities for Others
Miller-Perry believed strong communities were built through economic opportunity.
In addition to founding the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce, she created opportunities for countless Tennessee entrepreneurs through Tennessee Tribune News & Gifts, which operates two locations inside Nashville International Airport. The stores showcase products from Tennessee-owned businesses, giving small business owners exposure to thousands of travelers while highlighting the creativity and innovation of local entrepreneurs.
Her commitment to supporting Black-owned businesses was reflected throughout the pages of the Tennessee Tribune, where business owners found not only advertising opportunities but also a newspaper committed to celebrating their achievements.
A Builder of Institutions
Throughout her career, Miller-Perry established organizations and programs designed to create lasting opportunities for future generations.
In addition to the Tennessee Tribune and the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce, she founded the Anthony J. Cebrun Journalism Center, helping inspire and mentor aspiring journalists. She also served as a charter member of Nashville’s Les Gemmes and was active with Leadership Nashville, Leadership Middle Tennessee and the North Nashville Community Development Agency. She was a Golden Heritage Member of the NAACP.
Her influence extended well beyond Tennessee. She was inducted into The HistoryMakers, one of the nation’s largest archives dedicated to preserving African American history and accomplishments. During her lifetime she received more than 100 awards and honors, including the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the Black Press of America. A scholarship bearing her name was also established at the University of Memphis in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education, leadership and service.
A Community Mourns
As news of Miller-Perry’s passing spread across Tennessee and beyond, tributes poured in from elected officials, business leaders and community organizations whose lives she touched through decades of leadership and service.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell remembered Miller-Perry as “a legend—entrepreneur, civil rights advocate, and news and opinion leader.”
Davidson County Assessor of Property Vivian Wilhoite described Miller-Perry as both a mentor and friend.
“Mrs. Rosetta Miller Perry poured wisdom into my life through countless late-night conversations about politics, family, leadership, faith and life,” Wilhoite said. “Her advice was honest, her encouragement unwavering and her commitment to our community unmatched.”
Wilhoite said Miller-Perry “built institutions, elevated voices and opened doors for generations of leaders.”
Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Yuri Cunza called Miller-Perry “a pioneering journalist, publisher, entrepreneur, civil rights advocate and one of Nashville’s true community builders.”
“She was a trailblazer whose impact extended far beyond the pages of the Tennessee Tribune,” Cunza said. “She understood the power of journalism to inform, unite and strengthen a community.”
A Legacy That Lives On
For more than three decades, Rosetta Miller-Perry did far more than publish a newspaper. She gave voice to the unheard, created opportunities for entrepreneurs, championed civil rights, mentored future leaders and built institutions that will continue serving Tennessee for generations.
The Tennessee Tribune she founded remains a reflection of the mission she embraced throughout her life—to inform, uplift and empower the community she loved.
In announcing her passing, Miller-Perry’s family reflected on the extraordinary woman whose vision transformed journalism and countless lives.
“The light of a true legend and icon has dimmed. Our family is mourning the loss of our devoted mother, grandmother and aunt, Rosetta Miller-Perry, who passed peacefully surrounded by family and cherished memories.
To many in Nashville and across the entire country, she was known and celebrated as a trailblazer, a pioneer and a difference maker. She started the Tennessee Tribune with grit, passion and determination to ensure African Americans were seen, heard and represented. It was her mission to report positive news that uplifted the community.
Her life’s work as a civil rights advocate, community advocate, journalist and media owner is a testament to her dedication to being a champion for equal rights and change.
She will be greatly missed and leaves a heavy absence in our community and our nation. We ask for your privacy at this time. Details about services to celebrate her extraordinary life will be shared soon.”
