Melvin, affectionately called Pep and Famo, was born 7/23/1974 in Saginaw, Michigan to Eloise Howard and Melvin (Dickie) Taylor. Pep passed on to the arms of our Heavenly Father on 10/04/2021, after a courageous three-year battle with prostate cancer.
Pep attended Saginaw Public Schools, including Morley Elementary; North Middle; and Arthur Hill High. He forged many lifelong friendships that flourished for all of his 47 years. Anyone who knew Pep, knew that he was a loyal friend; had a heart of gold, a smile that brightened the darkest days and a joke for EVERY situation. He was always the life of the party.
Pep loved his family and friends immensely.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his amazing grandmother, Eleanor Taylor; his handsome and devoted sons: Jalan and Tyler Howard and their mother, Lakimba Howard; granddaughter, Laylani Howard; the love of his life, his beautiful daughter, Myana Howard, and her mother Yolanda Wilson. Yolanda’s children: Alana, DeUnique,and Marlon Wilson, Jr., and Yolanda’s grandchildren: Ronald Jr. and Royalty Reid, Isaiah Barrientes, Mylah Smith, Shamar Wilson Mcduel, Tanayah and Taniyah Porter, whom he loved as his own.
Pep is also survived by his siblings Janice (Lester Sr.) Burrell and Alphonso Howard of Panola, AL; Felice (Kevin Sr.) Bond of Wyoming, MI; God-sisters, Tanisha Anderson of Saginaw, MI; and Natasha (Ronald, Sr.) Jones of Melbourne, FL. His nephews, Lester Burrell, Jr., Anthony Diggs, Jr., Kevin Bond, Jr., Bernard Grant and nieces, Shameka (Gaylain) Littles, Shawne Grant, Shafon & Natalie Howard, Kieara Bond, and Aysia Burrell.
His aunts and uncles, Lucille Morris, Highland Park, NJ; Rilla Caldwell, Saginaw, MI; Lillian Patton, Shuqualak, MS; Annie, Maxine, and Clara Howard, Saginaw, MI; Gardner (Marilyn) Howard, Sr., Hurmond Howard and Minnie (Joseph) Smith, of Panola, AL; Judith (Eddie) Bell of Moundville, AL and Revernell Taylor, Chicago, IL, Larry (Emma) Taylor, Saginaw, MI. Great aunts, Essie Howard, Birmingham, AL., Bertha (Aaron) Pruitt, Gainesville, AL, Lillie Thomas and Geneva (Jack) Long of Saginaw, Michigan.
Pep had many loyal friends: Darrell “Grunt” Sherley, Lester White, Derrick Brewer; Kelvin Mitchell, Derrick Byrd, Andre Mitchell, Reggie Statom, Theodore Johnson, Terrence Porter, Doug Thomas, Towanna Coleman, Tamika Jones, Michelle Lyons and Michael Ware, Dominic and Omar Williamson, Phinace Wilson, Franklin Smith, Jr., Tammy Camel. Pep had many more well-loved friends too numerous to name, but they know who they are. He also had special cousins that were his “sidekicks”: Benita Smith, Dennis Howard and Senior “Clyde” Howard.
Pep was greeted in Glory by his devoted parents, Eloise Howard and Melvin Taylor; grandparents, Alex and Eula Howard and Johnnie Taylor; aunts, Clarisa Howard; Johnnie May Richardson and Mildred Taylor ; uncle, Robert Taylor; first cousins, McKensley Howard, April and Robin Taylor; Kenyetta Conner, Gardner Howard, Jr., Tony Landers and Donnell Ireland; best friends, Weylin Graham and Larry Darden.
Special thanks to Dr. Stephanie Dublis, Denise and the entire oncology team at University of Michigan Metro Cancer Center in Wyoming, MI; Pastor and Mrs. Taurus Simpson, Bishop and Mrs. Larry Camel; Gillespie and Paradise Funeral Chapel; Maxine Howard, Yolanda and Alana Wilson for their assistance in his final days.
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