Linda Aycock, Legal Assistant
Linda brings 30 years of valuable legal experience to the firm. She's been with us for nine years, and assists with real estate, probate, and corporate matters. She's well versed in wills and litigation details, as well as being a master of organization. For dates and names remembered, Linda is the go-to person for all. She's also the one with a kind word and a smile that never fails.
When she's not working, Linda's activity of choice is relaxing on the beach. (We can't blame her--maybe a satellite office is in store one day!)
Jan Character, Real Estate Assistant
Jan is our newest real estate expert. Having found retirement too quiet, she comes to us with more than 41 years of legal experience, most of it in Florida real property work. We're excited to welcome Jan back; she actually started her legal career with Bentley, Miller, Snider & Ellsworth in 1971, went on to manage went on to manage Veteran’s Mortgages & Benefits, a branch office of Hallmark Mortgage with their VA loan bank. A powerhouse on title details, Jan and daughter, Monica then operated Janco Titleworks, Inc. for years. Her specialization in VA loans adds new depth to our own expertise. In her spare time, Jan has conquored the world of computer gaming! She recently finished Dark Souls, considered one of XBox's toughest games on the market, scoring the thousand point maximum!
Annette Crosby, Legal Assistant
Annette has 19 years experience in legal assisting, most particularly in the field of personal injury and commercial litigation. From beginning to end, she is an expert in ensuring that the myriad of details surrounding complex trial work go smoothly for Miller, Crosby & Miller clients. Annette thrives on the challenge of providing the detailed answers and information that make our clients the best prepared, most confident defendents possible. Her personal touches include court and deposition date reminders, extra background reading and even help with what to wear on court day when needed. Her experience has helped walk countless clients through the complex legal maze of commercial and personal litigation to success.
Debbie Dean, Legal Assistant & Office Manager
Debbie, a Polk County native, has 31 years of legal experience and has been with the firm for more than 25 years. She came to work for Tommy Miller at Miller & Sweat in 1980. She left for a few years in 1988, but thankfully for us, returned in 1994. Debbie's primary work is in the areas of wills and probate, where she handles these matters with sensitivity and efficiency. She's also our office manager, and in that role Debbie solves problems before they happen and keeps things running smoothly. Outside of work, Debbie is an avid reader and enjoys scrapbooking. Her first grandchild (a little boy), is now here. May the spoiling begin!
Karen Pilcher, Courier
We keep Karen on the go as our courier and general jack- (or shall we say jill?) of-all-trades around the office. She's a Lakeland native, a graduate of Lakeland High, and actually met her husband at a Dreadnaughts football game! Her work experience, following a degree from Polk Community College, includes accounting, banking, payroll, benefits, and accounts payable. Away from work, Karen loves art and music. She's an avid painter, successfully embarking on Venetian plaster projects at her home that most of us would only watch on HGTV. She enjoys seeing her favorite artists in concert when they come to the area, but most of all she loves spending time with her family. Karen has two adult daughters, and since October, has been a grandmother to the sweetest, most beloved little girl in the world!
Melanie Roberts, Real Estate Assistant
This year, Melanie will celebrate ten years with Miller, Crosby and Miller, but we will actually be the ones celebrating the hardest! She has lived in Polk County for more than a decade and quickly developed an expertise in title work and closings. She was born and raised in Kitzingen, Germany, and speaks fluent English and German--and real estate. Melanie, a super-mom of three, enjoys spending time with her family and working on her own blog, appropriately titled 2 Boys + 1 Girl = One Crazy Mom.
Paula Stone, Receptionist
Paula moved to warm and sunny Florida from Rhode Island in 1972, and Miller, Crosby and Miller clients are thrilled to have her. She came out of retirement from a 25-year career with a Fortune 500 company to join Miller, Crosby & Miller ten years ago. Today, she is the voice that greets you when you call and the smiling face you see when you walk through our front doors. 
Paula is a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary, she has won numerous awards over the years for the volunteer work she has done for veterans and the youth of our community, and even won a national District Administrator of the Year award at her previous job. When she’s not working or volunteering, Paula enjoys working in her yard, keeping up with the sports teams from her native New England, and most of all, spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Marie Warner, Real Estate Assistant
Marie joined the firm more than 15 years ago, and helps keep our real estate area efficient, accurate--and fun to be around! She handles the accounting for the real estate trust account as well as the accounting with Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, LLC. Originally hailing from Michigan, Marie's been a Floridian since 1970, and absolutely, positively never complains about the heat (mostly!). Aside from work, she stays busy helping our community through her memberships in the Eagles, the Elks, and the Moose. And when you meet her mom, you know from whence came her charm! Marie's favorite activity of all is spending time with her five children and nine grandchildren.