EDNA FORTNER MELVIN's Obituary
PERRY –
Edna Fortner Melvin, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 23, 2022, just days before her 84th birthday. All services will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Perry. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. followed by the Funeral at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Jamie Powell officiating. Burial will be later the same day in Andersonville National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests consideration of memorial donations to Watson-Hunt Funeral Home to help with the funeral expenses or First Baptist Church of Perry, 1101 Main Street, Perry, GA 31069.
Edna was born in Henderson, North Carolina, to the late Paul and Maude Higgins Fortner. Edna married Jewel Monroe “Mel” Melvin, and the couple lived in California where Mel worked at Edwards Air Force Base for a number of years. When his job with Civil Service transferred him in 1981 to Robins Air Force Base, the couple moved to Perry, Georgia. They loved to travel and see the country, so they welcomed an opportunity to live in the South. When they traveled from Savannah to Maine and back by train, Edna was thrilled to visit all of the exciting places they stopped along the way. She went to college later in life and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietary Management from Auburn University. Edna was the Dietary Manager for Summerhill Senior Living Community where she spent twenty years preparing various menus and meals specifically for patients’ various nutritional needs. She also worked at Church Home for the Aged for five years, after which time she finally decided to retire. After her retirement, Edna and Monroe opened and operated Perry Café where they grew to know and love many of the local patrons as well as met many travelers from across the country who stopped off I-75 for a home-cooked meal. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Perry and the Sunday School Class and loved her church family. Edna was an avid golfer and enjoyed golf trips, tournaments, and vacations. She was a long-time active member of the Ladies’ Golf Association at Perry Country Club. The many years of golfing allowed her to make three Holes-in-One; she was so proud of those.
Edna was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Peggy Burris; her daughter, Maggie Costello; her son, John Thomas “Tom” Costello; and her beloved husband of thirty-one years, Jewel Monroe “Mel” Melvin.
Left to cherish the memories of Edna are her loving and devoted daughter, Sharon Hoisington (Robin “Rob” Hartley) of Perry; her stepsons, Sean Melvin of San Diego, California, and Kevin Melvin of Phoenix, Arizona; her grandchildren, Matt Hoisington of Warner Robins, Michael Costello of Orlando, Florida, Nathaniel Costello (Crystal) of Byron, R.J. Costello of Jasper, Florida, and Clayton Hartley (Stephanie); and eighteen great-grandchildren.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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