Melva Crawford Dallas

Melva Crawford Dallas

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Melva Crawford Dallas, 79, of Madison died April 28, 2022. 

She was the daughter of Rev. Samuel Crawford and Perla Mae Greer Crawford Porter and step-daughter of O.M. Porter all of Jackson, MS. Mrs. 

Dallas graduated from Central High School in Jackson, MS in 1960. She attended Mississippi College and Delta State University. Her employment history includes administrative assistant for the Epidemiology and Immunology Division at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA and as a claims representative at the Social Security Administrative Offices in Cleveland and Greenville, MS. She married Jerry W. Dallas of Jackson, MS on May 1, 1964. 

Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Dallas moved to Cleveland, MS, in 1970 where Dr. Dallas taught at Delta State University. They were members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Cleveland. She was a member of the church choir, served as WMU Director, and taught Sunday School. She also directed the youth choir and youth programming. She was also a member of the Cleveland Woman's Club, the Bolivar County Hospital Auxiliary, and a Master Gardener. In 2016, Dr. and Mrs. Dallas retired to Starkville, MS. 

They joined First Baptist Church where she was a substitute Sunday School teacher. They moved to Madison, MS, before Christmas of 2021, where they lived in Sunnybrook Estates. 

Mrs. Dallas is preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Crawford, Mrs. Porter and Mr. Porter; two sisters, Dewanna Crawford of Jackson, and Gayle Starnes Magness of Booneville, MS; brother-in-law Randall Gardner of Meridian, and Mother-in-law, Olene Dallas of Sturgis, MS. 

She leaves behind her husband of almost 58 years, Jerry W. Dallas of Madison, and three children, David Dallas (Alicia) of Greenwood, MS; Wendi Thomas (Dave) of Madison, MS; and Andrea McNeil (Sid) of Olive Branch, MS; one sister, Lyndell Gardner of Loudon, TN and one brother-in-law, Jim Magness of Booneville, MS. 

She also leaves behind nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. 

Donations in her honor may be sent to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the Boys & Girls of the Mississippi Delta. Memorial services were held April 30 at Parkway Funeral Home.






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