Peggy Melton

Martha "Peggy" Harris Melton, of Overton, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, March 2, 2010, in Cleveland, Texas. The last living descendant of the seven children of William Thomas Harris and Lena Frances McCarty Harris, Peggy was born May 9th, 1918, along with her identical twin Mary. She was a long time resident of Overton, TX. As a high school student, Peggy was fortunate to be among the survivors of the London School Explosion in 1936, an event which shaped her life. She was a graduate of the class of 37 of London High School. She also attended Kilgore College, studying typing and shorthand. She was a fulltime mother and homemaker for many years. After her girls were grown, Peggy worked in the Rusk County District Attorney's Office and the Tax Office in Henderson and Overton for over 30 years before her retirement. While in high school, she won regional honors in typing and shorthand. She gave her life to Christ at the age of 18 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. She married the love of her life, George Gordon Melton, July 10, 1939, as the mystery couple at the Movie Theater in Henderson. After living in Houston, Athens, and Weatherford, she and George settled in Overton where they raised their two daughters, Darlene and Brenda. She and her husband were active members of the First Baptist Church of Overton. Later they were also founding members of the original Church on the Rock in Longview, started by her son in law and daughter. For years she served as the director of youth fellowship at Church on the Rock and was almost single-handedly responsible for sending every young person to church camp at Pine Cove outside Tyler. Unofficially, she was the "queen" of the church-wide garage sales. A devout Christian, Peggy was a woman of great faith. Her love of life was always apparent. Peggy loved to travel, going many times to Israel and other countries with her daughter's ministry. To this day, shop keepers in Israel always ask, "Where's Nanny?" She could always manage to bargain for a better price for her souvenirs. She deeply loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and indeed her whole church family and friends. It wasn't unusual for her to feed forty people at one meal. Many family members as well as her church family spent their holidays there stating, "I'd rather be a Nanny's than to be with my own family." Her influence in their lives will never be forgotten. Nanny's house was a special place to be on holidays and summer vacation. Peggy always had a smile and an encouraging word for everyone. She was a very giving person in every sense of the word. She will be greatly missed by family and friends alike. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, William Thomas and Lena Francis McCarty Harris, her husband George Gordon Melton, her sisters Bonnie Sutton, Thelma Loper, and Mary Pollard as well as her brothers Milton, Boren, and Delton Harris. She is survived by her daughters, Darlene Matthews, of Longview, Brenda and Blu Hubbard of Cleveland; her grandchildren, Monique Matthews of Austin, Jason King of Waskom, Angie and Steve Morrow of Brazoria, and Dominic Matthews of Longview; great grandchildren Brittany Raybon and Cameron Morrow of Brazoria, and Logan Matthews of Longview. Family visitation will be held at The Ministry Church, 1600 Crestview, Longview, TX., Friday, March 5th from 6 until 8 PM. Funeral services will also be held at the Ministry Church at Twelve Noon Saturday, March 6th. The family requests that memorials be made to Darlene Matthews Ministries, PO Box 9880, Longview, TX., an international evangelistic ministry that helps people around the world as well as those in need here at home.

Peggy Melton

May 9, 1918 - March 2, 2010