James Melvin Sr.

James Erdman Melvin, Sr. “Hawke” passed away after a long illness, surrounded by his loving wife, children, and grandchildren at Easton Memorial Hospital on February 7, 2007. He was 83 years old. Born on October 15, 1923 in Queen Anne’s County, he was a life-long resident. He attended a one-room schoolhouse on Perry’s Corner Road. He served in the National Guard during World War II. Since he was a child he worked on his father’s farm. James worked at Friels in Queenstown. He also worked construction. Mr. Melvin helped to build the first span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. He was an Eastern Shore waterman and spent most of his working years on the Wye River and Greenwood Creek. He loved the water, as a trot-line crabber and tonging oysters. He loved hunting the land, fishing, and trapping Muskrats. He loved gardening and nature. He was a loyal member of the Queenstown Bay County Moose. He loved dancing and country-hillbilly music. He married Ethel Elizabeth Cook of Queenstown on August 6, 1949. They were married for 57 ½ years. They made their home in Perry’s Corner, Grasonville, MD. He adored his wife and family. Family love and support was his whole world. Mother Nature taught him many lessons in his life. Mr. Melvin is predeceased by his parents, John Beauregard Melvin and Ella Isabel Smith; sister, Georgiana Pinkfield Chance; brother, John Samuel Melvin. He is survived by his loving wife, Ethel Elizabeth Melvin; 2 daughters, Judy Ervina Edelheit and her husband Tom of Price, MD, Janet Lee Akers and her husband, Bill of Grasonville, MD; 2 sons, James Erdman Melvin, Jr and his wife Ilene of Grasonville, MD, Donald Wayne Melvin and his wife Linda of Grasonville, MD; 10 grandchildren, Judy Lynn Edelheit of Henderson, MD, Adam Thomas Edelheit of Glen Burnie, MD, James “Jameson” Erdman Melvin III of Ridgely,MD, Jennifer (Jen) Elizabeth Dudley of Kent Island, MD; Jonias Norwood Melvin of Stevensville, MD, Donald (Don) Wayne Melvin, Jr of Grasonville, MD, James (Jamie) Tilghman Melvin of Grasonville, MD, Jessica Lynn Akers of Grasonville, MD, Julie Ann Darling of Greensboro, MD, and Jordan Cody Melvin of Grasonville, MD; 7 great grandchildren, Billy McMahon, Chelsey Ann McMahon, Delilah Moon Kolanda, Emily Snow Kolanda, Ava Grace Melvin, Sage Lynn Dudley, and Noel Irene Dudley. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and one great grandson; Adam Thomas Edelheit, James E. Melvin, III, Donald Wayne Melvin, Jr, Jonias Norwood Melvin, James Tilghman Melvin, Jordon Cody Melvin, and little Billy McMahon. A funeral will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 11 AM Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD 21619. Friends and family may call at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A. in Chester, MD on Friday, February 9, 2007 from 6-8PM.