Melvin Thompson

Mr. Melvin H. Thompson, our dearly beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather, transitioned peacefully on November 24, 2020 at the age of 83 years. He was born to Lewis James Sr. and Luebirtha Brownlee Thompson on February 23, 1937 in Round Lake, Mississippi. Melvin was the last living sibling.

After leaving Round Lake, Mississippi in 1966, Melvin relocated to Saginaw, Michigan where he was a dedicated, devoted and hard working employee at the Chevrolet Grey Iron Foundry for over 30 years before retiring in 2006. Melvin loved spending time with his friends and family, but he especially loved cooking and his specialty was barbequing. He loved listening to B.B. King and the Blues, hunting, fishing, gardening, working in his yard, and watching westerns. For relaxation he enjoyed going to the Farmers’ Market and to the casino with family. Most of all he loved and cherished spending quality time with his wife Shirley, granddaughter and grandson, Apeari’a and Harrison Taylor.

Melvin leaves to cherish many memories with his loving wife, Shirley Sledge Thompson and their children, Lonzie (Cynthia) Brodnex, William Darden III, Shaneal Harrison and James Harrison III, all of Saginaw, Michigan; grandchildren, Dominique Howard, Anthony Burton, Travis D. Quinn, Ashley Baldwin, Guillermon Jackson, Apeari’a Taylor and Harrison Taylor, all of Saginaw, Michigan; sixteen great-grandchildren; two special great-grandchildren, D’Angel Baker and Kevin Bland Jr.; god-daughters, Stacy Baker and Tammara Shacks, both of Saginaw, Michigan; special nephew, Rev. Lewis C. Thompson, Nashville, Tennessee; father-in law, Deacon R.C. Sledge; two special sisters-in-law, Ernestine Thompson, Shelby, Mississippi, Dorties Thompson, Saginaw, Michigan; special cousin in-law, Bessie Thompson, Chicago, Illinois; sisters and brothers-in-law, Rebecca Beeman, R.L. Sledge, Samuel (Jennifer) Sledge, all of Saginaw, Michigan, Emanuel (Jill) Sledge, Flint, Michigan, Bonnie (Louis) Wright, Sandra (John) Parks, both of Atlanta, Georgia; the Brodnex Family, many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

Melvin was the last living sibling of four brothers and two sisters. He was preceded in death by a son, Larry “Dee” Darden; granddaughter, Jasmine Prescott; parents, Louis James Sr. and Luebirtha Brownlee Thompson; brothers, Edward “Doc” Thompson, Aaron “Bill” Tyler, Benjamin “Ben” Thompson, Lewis James “Fats” Thompson Jr., and Herbert Thompson; twin sisters, Annell Thompson Jones and Vonnell Thompson; mother-in-law, Nancy P. Sledge; brother-in-law Timothy V. Beeman.

View Funeral Webcast