Melba T. Saunders 12/23/1925-4/23/2016
Melba Laura Saunders was born December 23rd, 1925 in Dixie Union Georgia, the youngest of six children born to Mullis and Abigail Walker Thornton. She spent the first seventeen years of her life on the family farm. In 1942, she graduated from Waco high School, spent one year living in New York, and then moved to Jacksonville to be near her sister. She went to work at the Jacksonville Shipyards which was producing ships for the war effort. It was there that she met Woodrow ("Wood") Richardson. In 1945, they were married and settled in the Springfield neighborhood of Jacksonville. With the births of their three children, Melba was a stay-at-home mom until Wood's untimely death in 1966. Melba returned to work and was employed by the Mitchell Clinic until her retirement in 1987. It was there that she met her future husband Wesley Saunders ("Saunders"). After retirement she and Saunders traveled extensively abroad until his passing in 2001. She was a voracious reader and could converse on almost any subject. She enjoyed gardening and often told stories of her life on the farm "home place". She was an avid quilter, and enjoyed making beautiful quilts for her family. She was an excellent cook having developed those skills at an early age. She was an active member of Christ the King Church in Arlington.
Melba was preceded in death by her two husbands Wood and Saunders, and her beloved daughter, Gretchen Tedder. She is survived by two sons, Woodrow Richardson (Alice), Robert Richardson (Elizabeth); grandchildren Lisa R. Woods (Dan), Laura T. Stam (Mark), Leah T. Herrera (Jairo), Matthew Richardson (Sarah), Ryan Richardson (Whitney), Anna Richardson, Kate, Brooke and Jensen Richardson; great grandchildren Kaylee, Gabbi, Trevor and Brayden Woods, Morgan and Madison Stam, Chase, Hunter, Mackenzie, Storm and Skyler Herrera, Paige Wrighton and Camden Richardson, as well as many nieces and nephews.
On the morning of April 23, 2016, Melba passed away peacefully of natural causes. Melba was being visited and comforted by family members at the McGraw Center for Caring in Jacksonville, Fl., at the time of her passing. Melba was 90 years old. Her funeral will be Monday May 2nd at 10:00 am at Arlington Park Funeral home. Her dear friend Monsignor Danaher will conduct the service.