Obituary for Sadie Lee Franklin Melvin

MRS. SADIE LEE FRANKLIN MELVIN, age 92, of Pooler, GA and formerly of Milan, GA finished her life’s journey Sunday, December 17, 2023, at Hospice Savannah.

            Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday December 21, at Sand Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Milan, GA with Rev. Aubrey Corbitt officiating.

            Mrs. Melvin was born in Union, SC in 1931 and moved to Hickory, NC in her formative years. She was a graduate of St. Stephens High School in Hickory, NC and was the Salutatorian of her class. She and her husband Barney Melvin married on October 29, 1949, while he served in the United States Army and they lived in several places during his service career before moving to Milan, GA in 1973. She was a 1968 graduate of the Medical Technician Program at Columbus, GA Medical Center. Later, she continued studying and became a Medical Technologist, working for over 30 years for several employers including Columbus Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, VA, Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, Telfair County Hospital where she managed the laboratory and x-ray departments, and Dodge County Hospital. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who lived a life that was exemplary of her Christian faith. She was a dedicated member, longtime Sunday school teacher, and regularly involved in Church Activities at Milan Baptist Church. She enjoyed cooking, canning, reading, sewing, and tending her shrubs and flowers. Sadie was the daughter of the late Rosa Lee Burgess Franklin and Sherman B. Franklin. She is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, James Barney Melvin, Sr., and her great granddaughter Katlin Rejholec.

            She is survived by her Daughter – Regena Lee Melvin Sanders (David) of Fernandina Beach, FL; Son – James B. Melvin, Jr. (Kimberly) of Pooler, GA; 4 Grandchildren – Jamie Lee Pickard of San Francisco, CA, James B. Melvin, III (Tricia) of Thunderbolt, GA, Robert T. Pickard (Erin) of Raliegh, NC, and Elisa M. Berman (Jason) of Richmond Hill, GA; Great Grandchildren – Tyler Melvin, Tanner Melvin, Tripp Melvin, Austin Rejholec, Matthew Rejholec, Kiersten Rejholec, Aurelia Anne Siplon; Numerous Nieces and Nephews.

            The family will receive friends at Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home from 12:00PM-1:00PM Thursday, December 21, 2023 and may be contacted at the residence of James B. Melvin, 15 Masters Way, Pooler, GA 31322. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Hospice Savannah, Inc., https://www.hospicesavannah.org