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Submitted by Joyce Collins-Taylor OBITUARIES - Harlan Mailing List - - Thursday May 1, 2007 Tressie Mills MelzoniÊ Tressie Mills Melzoni, age 87 of Dayton, Ohio formerly of Harlan County, Kentucky died Saturday, April 28, 2007, at Miami Valley Hospital of Dayton. She was born in Ely, Knox County, Kentucky January 9, 1920, to the late Gilbert Mills and Axie Hubbard. Her paternal Grandparents were William Robert Mills and Esther (Easter) Grubb-Mills, of Mills, Knox County, Kentucky. Her maternal Grandparents were Nasby Hubbard and Marthena Jackson-Hubbard of Mills Creek, Bright Shade, Clay County, Kentucky. She was married to Rev. Thomas Melzoni, Sr. June 29, 1946, in Harlan, Kentucky. He preceded her in death on March 12, 1989.Ê Ê Tressie and Thomas served together as a team with New Church Developments and Served in many Southern Baptist Churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio beginning in the early years of their marriage. They had two children, A daughter Sharon Kay Melzoni married to Terrell Coy Black of Dayton, Ohio. A son Dr. Thomas Melzoni Jr., to E. Trina Martin of Dayton, Ohio. The daughter, Sharon Kay remembers that her mother always took them back to the Mountains of Kentucky for the Christmas Holidays as a child and She and her family continued that practiced as long as her grandparents Gilbert and Axie Mills were living.Ê Mrs. Melzoni has enjoyed the rare distinction of being one of the last highly respected "One Room School Teacher" in the Appalachia Region in the early 1950s. She was Valedictorian of her Hall High School graduating class of Grays Knob, Kentucky. She took courses at University of Tennessee and later taught in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. She served as the Bible School Principal for more than 25 years while serving at the Miami Shores Baptist Church in Dayton where she and her husband served 27 years. She was a beloved Sunday School teacher for over 40 years in the Harlan Baptist Churches including Pansy Baptist Church, the Oliver Springs Baptist Church in Tennessee and Miami Shores Baptist Church. She also enjoyed serving as Church Secretary for a time. She was so loved by her family and friends and will be sorely missed. She will be long remembered for her devotion to God, Family and her enthusiastic support of her Church and Community.Ê Tressie Is survived by two brothers Rev. Nasby C. Mills & wife Patsy Shackleford Mills of London, KY and Dr. Bruce D. Mills &wife Patsy Franks-Mills of Montgomery, Al. Sister in Law Thelma Smith Mills of Johnson City, Tennessee. Her Sisters include, Thena Mills Hensley of Richmond, KY, Bernice C. Mills & husband Clarence B. McCurry of Louisville, Ky. Joyce Ann Mills &husband Kenneth Fee of Frankfort, KY and Carolyn Sue Mills &husband Earl W. Schneider, Jr. of Simpsonville, Ky. The siblings who preceded her in death include: Basil Mills 1921-1997 and Edith Mills-Bonza 1923-1967 Gilbert (Clyde) Mills, 1925-1927 and Betty Jean Mills 1931-1932 and June Faye Mills-Barnett 1942-2000. Others include Her brothers-in-law William Walter Bonza 1925-1965 and Clifford Elisha Hensley 1927-2004. Two nephews, Bruce Edward Mills 1953-1980 and Gregory Allen Mills 1967-1989.Ê Surviving Niece's and Nephews listed as follows: Axie Lillian Bonza and husband Bruce Reasor, Sr. William Walter Bonza, Jr. and wife Linda Ann Norton. Claudette Starrett and husband John Earl Sanders. JoAnna Lynn Mills and husband James Lee Smith. Ricky Eugene Mills and wife Pauline Cochran. Lisa Jean Mills and husband Fred Edward Ellis, Jr. Gary Randall Hensley and wife Anna Lou Asbe. Larry Nelson Hensley and wife Julie Ann Ridley. Pamela Karen Hensley and husband Marty Duane Wells. Paula June Hensley-Becker. Daniel Lloyd Nicely and wife Joan Denise Haven. Kimberly Kay McCurry-Heil.Ê Bruce Dalton Mills, II and wife Jennifer E. Hudson. Tambra Elaine Fee and husband Daniel Scott Shouse. Basil Kenneth Fee and wife Gina Marie Hawks. Douglas Wayne Fee and wife Stacey Renee Ditty. Susan Denise Barnett and husband Thomas Lee Rohleder and Steven Gilbert Barnett.Ê Surviving Great Niece and Nephews List:Ê Gary Bruce Reason, II and Jonathan Scott Reasor. Jennifer Renee Reasor. Matthew Daniel Reasor. Susan Marie Starrett and husband Michael Mason. Stephani Beryl Starrett and husband John Maynard Allen. Anna Christine Bonza and husband Clinton Lee Guilford. Jason Walter Bonza. Stephanie Ann Bonza. Kirshell Lynn Mills and husband Jason Charles Lovins, Kelly Michael Lohrey and Kasey Alan Lohrey. Brittany Jo Mills, Christopher Michael Mills. Whitney Jo Ellis, Fred E. Ellis, III Matthew Randall Hensley, Allison Linn Hensley. Sean Thomas Wells, Joshua Robert Scott and Jeremy Ryan Scott. Chelcea Nicole Revel, Chase William Revel. Gregory Benjamin Heil, Daniel Jordan Heil, and Madison Nicole Heil. Katherine Ann Mills, Margaret Elizabeth Ritchie, Nathaniel Scott Shouse, Timothy John Fee and Amanda Elaine Fee. Brandon Douglas Fee, Karli Danielle Fee. Kaylee Denise Rohleder, Shane Thomas Rohleder, Jack Timothy Steven Rohleder . Surviving Great Great Niece and Nephews: Andra Jeanne Lovins, Austin Edward Lovins. McKenzie Danielle Reasor and Madison Marie Reasor. Jacob William Guilford, Maxwell Ryan Mason, Sarah Elizabeth Allen, Joy Christine Allen, John David Allen, Abby Grace Allen, Malissa Kay Allen and Benjamin Mills Allen. The Viewing, Visitation and Funeral Services will be held Thursday, May 3, 2007, at the Miami Shores Baptist Church. 4000 Vance Road, Dayton, Ohio. The Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon. The Funeral Services willÊfollow immediately at 12:00 O'clock with the Dr. Thomas Melzoni, Jr. and Rev. Nasby Mills officiating. Interment will be in the David Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio. The Swart Funeral Home of West Carrolton is in charge of arrangements. |