MELBA YORK BRYAN
Melba Claire was born to Pearl Smith York and Harvey F York, Sr. on the 23rd day of September, 1931, in Jesup GA and died on the 4th day of Sept 2008. She was the second of two children; her brother was the late Harvey F York, Jr. of Jesup, GA.
Melba’s early years were spent in Jesup where she attended elementary, middle and high school and graduated in 1949 from Wayne County High School. She attended Brenau Women’s College in Gainesville, GA and the University of Georgia graduating in 1953 with a BS degree in Education and Business. Later, Melba attended Jacksonville State College in Jacksonville, AL where she earned a MS degree in Education and English and taught high school subject in Anniston, AL and Heidelberg, Germany.
In June 1953, Melba married John A. Bryan, then a Lieutenant in the US Army, and lived, worked and taught in Monterey, CA; Anniston, AL; Shrivenham, England; Viahingen, Germany; Leavenworth, KS; Denver, CO; Columbus, GA; Springfield, VA; Savanna, IL; Heidelberg, Germany; Aberdeen, MD and Hinesville, GA. In Hinesville she was the Coordinator of Child Support Services at Fort Stewart and later worked as an Educational Counselor. She retired in Sept 1993.
Melba was originally a member of the First Baptist Church of Jesup, but later joined the First United Methodist Church after settling in Hinesville.
She became a victim of Alzheimer’s disease and spent the last eight years of her life residing in the Coastal Manor of Ludowici, GA.
Melba was a gentle, kind, wonderful, precious mother who provided her children with very happy childhood and adult memories and a strong, exemplary woman with abiding Christian faith and moral excellence who brought up her children in a godly household.
Melba is survived by John Bryan, Colonel Ret; one son, Roger Bryan, Lawrenceville, GA; one daughter, Barbara Bryan, Flowery Branch, GA; one daughter-in-law, Regina Bryan; one grandson, Andrew Bryan, Lawrenceville, GA.; and four nieces: Pat York, Jesup, GA; Pamela Finland, Savannah, GA; Andrea Warren, Jesup, GA; and Ellen Wilkes, St Simons Island, GA,
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM on Sunday, Sept 7th at the Howard- Jones- Nobles Funeral Home. The funeral service will be in the James R. Gordon Memorial Chapel at 11:00 AM, Monday, Sept. 8th.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that remembrances be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association of Coastal Georgia, 201 Television Circle, Savannah, GA 31406.
Family and friends may sign the on-line register book at www.howardjonesnobles.com.
Howard-Jones-Nobles Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.