When walking around Williamson County, it wouldn't be unusual if you bumped into a famous influencer, popular musician, renowned artist, or prominent businessperson. We live in a community bursting with influential people - some well-known, some lesser-known, but all of them making giant impacts on our city. One of these influencers, Doris McMillan, has been residing in Franklin for most of her life, and her accomplishments are jaw-dropping.
Doris, who now works at New Hope Academy as the Director of Admissions, has had quite a life, although according to her, it ”is no big deal.” After taking vocational classes, her career began as an industrial seamstress in Detroit constructing car seats in luxury vehicles. As life progressed, she found herself living in Williamson County, and opened Seams by Doris —a hidden gift lying beneath her fingertips.
One day, a young woman came into Doris’ shop and asked her to fix a few of her “boss's” garments. Doris did so, and soon after the woman returned asking if she could come to her boss's home because she “may need her to sew things on a more regular basis.” Little did Doris know, she was walking into the house of Naomi Judd, and a brand-new beginning to her career.
Doris says, “Sewing for Naomi required a great deal of time and effort because she traveled frequently with book tours, humanitarian speaking engagements, along with stage performances.” She loved the creative freedom she was able to get with Naomi and had a long-standing friendship with the musician.“When you’re with a creative being, they get you,” says Doris. “Naomi really was a designer by heart. She was good, and she taught me a lot of what I know.”
Doris worked with Naomi for over two decades. She never traveled with the artist, allowing her to remain at home with her husband and their three children and be an active part of their lives—something Doris values to this day.
By word of mouth -- and lots of hard work --, Doris’ career flourished. She has wardrobe credits for Hallmark Channel movies, and the Oprah Winfrey show. Doris has also sewn for Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, Tanya Tucker, Keb’Mo, New Edition, Tyler Perry, Lainey Wilson, Barry Manilow (one of her personal favorites), Scott Hamilton and Taylor Swift. These days, Doris is called by Bridgestone Arena to help backstage with the wardrobes of artists who visit Nashville.
Doris is humble to her core —a peaceful woman who recognizes her abilities and wants to give back to her community. Some of her accolades include being named “Williamson County Trailblazer,” establishing the African American Heritage Society’s Black Tie Affair, and serving on the boards of Mercy Children’s Clinic, African American Heritage Society, Franklin Tomorrow, Haiti Hospital Foundation, Inner City Coalition, 4H of Williamson County, the Williamson County Library, City of Franklin River Walks and Parks, National Federation of Colored Women, Franklin Transit Authority, Williamson County African American Veterans Foundation, and many others. Her most recent accomplishment is being appointed by Governor Bill Lee to the Tennessee Historic Commission.
Doris claims she is not a busy woman, but her schedule implies otherwise. Spending her weekdays working at New Hope, and the entire weekend sewing, it seems there may be more hours in the day for Doris than the rest of us. “I prioritize time,” she says. “I stitch some early mornings for inspiration. It’s not stressful.” Often rising as early as 2 a.m, Doris will sew when her imagination comes calling, and she loves every minute of it.
With the incredible life that she has led, Doris is most proud of being a wife and a mother, and being able to be a part of a city she loves. She claims to have no plans for the future, but if you look Doris McMillan up in a year, it is nearly certain that her resume will have grown.
"I prioritize time."