Ola Mae Melvin

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A Time To Be Born...Ola Mae Melvin was born and reared in Richmond, Virginia by her great aunt, Mother Daisy Eaton. She is the daughter of the late Savannah Fuller. A Time To Grow...Ola attended Richmond Public Schools and also attended classes for nursing assistant, where she received her certificate. A Time to Love...She was married to the late Therry J. Melvin. He was a loving husband for over 46 years. A Time To Work...Ola Mae worked as a nursing assistant and a cafeteria worker for Richmond Public Schools. A Time To Worship...Ola Mae confessed Christ and joined Third Street Methodist Church, where she became very active in her church. At the age of eight, she went with her great aunt Daisy Eaton to different churches, singing solos with Mr. Junnius Franklin as her accompanist. She began her musical training at the age of eight under the late Mrs. Flora B. James. During this time it was discovered that she had a God-given talent to play by ear. At age twelve, she started playing the piano for Bassing Betty and The Heavenly Light Gospel Singers who broadcast on W.A.N.T. Radio Station. She also traveled with the late Rev. C.C. Dickerson to play for his nightly revival services. Throughout the years, she played for many groups and churches: Westwood Female Singers, Traveling Star Gospel Singers, Independent Gospel Singers, Imperial Gospel Singers, Starlight Gospel Singers of Goochland, Community Gospel Singers of Goochland, Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Goochland, Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church Male Chorus of New Kent, First Baptist Church of Washington, Park, M.W. Rainy Ushers Choir, Grayland Avenue Baptist Church (Westend), Great Hope Baptist Church Male Chorus, Sunbeam Choir of Gravel Hill Baptist Church (Henrico), and Northside Crusaders Baptist Church (The Coley Singers), Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Senior Choir, where she officially resigned from on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. She said she had played for them 17 years and that her body was tired. Ola joined Sharon Baptist Church in 1967, where she had served as Assistant Minister of Music and played for the Sunbeam Choir, Lee K. Washington Choir, and the Shining Star Gospel Chorus. She was the founder and organizer of the Deacon and Deaconess Day. She served on several ministries, Deaconess, Seniors of Sharon, Mass Choir, Golden Age Choir, and served as the pianist for the Sunday School and Prayer Service. She also played for the Area A District Missionaries. A Time to Mourn...Ola Mae is survived by devoted, Deacon Robert Winston (Deaconess Maude), known to all as her son; devoted god-daughter, Tammy McGee (Michael); three granddaughters, Yolonda Chandler (Herman), Robinette and Tahlitha Winston (Fiance Torrance Sr.); nine great-grandchildren, Tiffanie, Joshua (Key’era), Gabriel, and Tre’Shawn Winston, A’Nya and Chayla Robinson, and Torrance Jr., TiYanna and Teon Roane; two great-great-grandchildren, LaJarius and Key’Myah Winston; god-children, Rev. Dr. Morris Henderson, Rev. Clarance and Rev. Viola Moore, Rev. Marcella Christian, Larry Clanton and daughter Ashley, and the Harris family; cousins, Matthew Harris (Margie), and Eloise Pollard; her god-given little sister, Alice Plett; several devoted friends, Deacon John Deaconess Vera Davis, Mrs. Thelma Taylor, Deacon and Deaconess Wallace Hurte, Mrs. Esther Quarles and family, Deacon Edward Lee, Ms. Barbara Bush, Mrs. Adeline Clarke, Mrs. Esther Coble, and Mrs. Linda Jennings; two caring caregivers, Mrs. Key’era Winston and Ms. Theresa Bryant and a loving stand-by caregiver, Narkita Lewis. A Time To Rest...On May 3, 2013, God called Ola Mae Melvin home to rest. Free at Last . . .. Free at Last Thank God Almighty I’m Free at Last The Broken Chain We little knew that day God was going to call your name In life we loved you dearly in death, we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you , but you did not go alone; For part of us went with you the day God called you home You left us beautiful memories, your love is still our guide. And although we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, But as God calls us one by one the chain will link again.

Tributes

Ola Mae Melvin

November 27, 1933 - May 3, 2013