Esaldora Melvin

ESALDORA MELVIN (Isadore McMillan) was born on July 11, 1944, in Rex, North Carolina to the late Deacon Clem McMillan and Deaconess Dorothea McMillan. She departed her earthly life on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, after a long-term illness, with her sons right by her side . She received her early education with Robeson County Schools in North Carolina, and later relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where she created a new life for herself. Although she relocated to Baltimore, she never forgot that her foundation and that her DNA came from North Carolina. She would often share stories of her childhood of growing up in the south in the 40’s and 50’s. She would often share how her and her three older siblings would work (as she put it) those fields, picking cotton, while her three younger siblings went to school, and had to keep the house cleaned. However, because of this, it created a strong work ethic for her later. Growing up in the house of her parents, (Clem and Dorothea) God came first. The love for the Lord was a lifeline to everyone’s existence. It was taught at an early age to her and her siblings, God and family is a must. It was in Rex, NC, she gave her life to Christ and was a faithful member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in St. Paul’s, NC, with all her family, until she moved to Baltimore, Maryland. In Baltimore, she joined and was an active member of Southern Baptist Church over 58 years. Served under the leadership of the late Pastor Nathaniel Higgs and later Bishop Donte Hickman. It was at Southern Baptist she served faithfully on the Senior Usher Board, Senior Choir and Consolation Choir until she became ill. She loved her church and church family .Esaldora, at an early age, gained employment at Johns Hopkins Hospital, working as a patient escort, later working in the pharmacy department. She had remained a dedicated employee until her retirement. Esaldora gave birth to three children, Jennifer Melvin, Anthony Gregory and Steven D. Gregory. She took pride in raising her children. Although it may have been a challenge at times for her, she fought hard to protect, care for and provide for her children. She surely was a mama bear when it came to her kids. Everyone knew Esaldora from her cooking. Often you would find friends of the family at her house, celebrating something, but I believe it was her food that brought people there. At family gatherings, her .” Obituary" Speaking of gatherings, she enjoyed her peace, but she surely loved being around friends, especially her family. Every year, the week of July 4th, she, along with her siblings, would gather in North Carolina, where it all began, to spend time with each other. Living life to the fullest is what she lived by. In her prime, she would often take bus trips to Atlantic City, NJ with her friends. As stated, friends/family would be gathered at her house, often. She made sure her children had great birthdays and Christmas. She loved to shop. She, along with her daughter Jennifer, would often go shopping and go out to eat. Life with Esaldora was everything. She was a big fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens. You would see her watching them on TV. Although she may have had questions about the game, she knew one thing, that’s a Baltimore WIN. She was also a big fan of watching her favorite Judge shows, Game shows, and TV shows. As her health began to decline, she never forgot who her children were. She would always call each one by name. Her face would light up when her sons Anthony and Steven (Mont) would visit her. Even during her illness, she never stopped being that mama bear. She would always ask her sons if they had eaten? And she often would try to feed them her food. That’s who she was. Caring and thinking of others. Although her memory declined, she never forgot about home, North Carolina, and though she struggled with names, she would ask about her grandchildren. She was a fighter and fought a long and hard fight. She did not give up easily. She refused to take her rest until her sons came by her side, on the faithful morning. Leading up to that morning, her sons would say, Mama, I love you. With her weakened voice, she would reply, I love you, too .Esaldora, was preceded in death by her parents Clem and Dorothea McMillan, daughter Jennifer Melvin-Boukhaita, two grandsons Jeffrey S. Thames Jr. and Malik T. Gregory, two sisters Mary Curry and Magdalene Floyd, and three brothers Raymond McMillan, Charles McMillan and James McMillan. She leaves to cherish her memory: two sons, Anthony (Carol) Gregory, Steven (Mary) Gregory; brother, Rev. Clem McMillan of Gastonia, NC; nine grandchildren, Ashley Gregory, Sharday Gregory, Travon Gregory, Jamal Gregory, all of Baltimore, MD, Shelitta Akins of Butner, NC, Jasmine Rice of Durham, NC, Shaniqua Rice of Clayton, NC, Sierra Gregory of Everett, WA, and Raina Gregory of Burmingham, AL; seventeen great-grandkids; four sistersin-law, Josephine McMillan of Rex, NC, Mabel McMillan of Red Springs, NC, Diane McMillan of Gastonia, NC, and Annie Enlow Monroe of Philadelphia, PA.; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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Esaldora Melvin

July 11, 1944 - March 18, 2025