Melvene Washington Britton, 86, transitioned into eternal rest Saturday morning, September 3, 2022.
She was born November 7, 1936 to the late John Henry Washington and the late Mildred Bell Washington. She grew up on The Ridge in Patterson and graduated from Lee Street High School. Throughout her childhood, she was an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Patterson. She married the late Reverend Walter C. Britton, Jr. February 6, 1954. Their union was blessed with seven children. After marrying her husband, she joined Greater St. James AME Church in Blackshear where she was a loyal and faithful member for 65 years serving on the usher board, singing in the choir and coordinating many church activities and outreach. Additionally, she accompanied her husband to his various AME church assignments throughout southeast Georgia. She helped her husband run a farm for over 40 years, then in her 50’s, she returned to higher education and went back to school for nursing. She worked in the nursing field for 15 years at the Pierce County Nursing Home and the Waycross Youth Development Center.
In her later years, she traveled in the Caribbean and had a special fondness for the Dominican Republic. She loved gardening and became locally famous for her prized okra. She enjoyed canning preserves and chatting with her many friends. She was also an avid fan of the cowboy TV show Gunsmoke.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Stanley Britton, in 2013.
Survivors include six of her children, Felicia L. Hill ( Ronnie) and Dexter Britton both of Blackshear, Samantha Cook, Phoenix, AZ; Brando Britton and Rhonda Britton, both of Blackshear and Nicole Hagood (Hassan), Decatur; 11 grandchildren, Clayton Hill, Blackshear, Douglas Hill (Dylinder); Tonya Denton, Metairie, LA, A. J. Britton, Waycross, Jamie Cook (Deanna), Tampa, FL, Latrail Cook, Columbus, Jonathan Cook, Roanoke, VA; Christopher Cook, Savannah, Rajan Cook, Phoenix, AZ, Nazareth Hagood, London, England and Victoria Hagood, Atlanta; seven great-grandchildren, Traybian Williams Hill, Blackshear, Tasha Hill, Metairie, LA, Jayden Britton, Waycross, Titus Cook, Tampa, FL, Ava Cook, Columbus, Maliyah Hill and Zymere Hill both of Blackshear; five siblings, Talmadge Washington (Lily), Patterson, Elouise Custard, Columbus, Elizabeth Taylor (George), Baxley, Mildred McNair (Robert), McDonough, and Connie Debela (Achamyeleh), Durham, NC; a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will sorely miss her but no one will miss her more than her favorite and special cousin, Mary Dinkins of Herndon, VA.
Homegoing services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, from the Greater St. James AME Church, 526 Cherry Street, Blackshear.
Interment will follow in the The Ridge Cemetery, 5610 Aarons Way, Patterson.
The family will return to Greater St. James AME in Blackshear for the repast. All are welcome to attend.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.raingememorialchapelinc.com.
Rainge Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
