Mary Louise Greer Melvin

Mary Louise Greer Melvin
September 3, 1942 – June 29, 2024

Mary Lou Melvin, 81, of Gainesville, Ga., passed away Saturday, June 29, 2024.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, at First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville. Following the service, the family will receive friends at Swetenburg Hall inside the church. The service may also be viewed online at www.fpcga.org/worship.

Mary Lou’s life was a beautiful song, played out over a lifetime to the enjoyment of her family (especially her grandchildren who affectionately called her “LuLu”), friends, and everyone around her. She and her late husband, John Melvin, poured their lives into the Gainesville community and local nonprofits with the same joyful passion displayed in their dancing to the music of big bands.

The daughter of a small-town sheriff, Mary Lou grew up in Tifton, Ga., where she was raised next door to the local jail. Her transportation to and from school often was in a patrol car driven by deputies, her extended family. She turned a lot of heads back then, most notably as the head majorette and flutist in the high school band, being crowned Miss Tifton in 1961, and competing in the Miss Georgia Pageant.

 Her song continued into college at the University of Georgia, where she danced on football Saturdays as a Georgette in the Redcoat Marching Band and played the flute in the Redcoat Concert Band. It was there that she met and fell in love with her future husband, John Melvin, the marching band’s trumpet player. They were married for nearly 55 years before he passed away in 2019.

 Upon moving to Gainesville in 1968, Mary Lou and John became tremendous supporters of the local arts (Quinlan Arts Center) and community theater (Gainesville Theater Alliance). She volunteered in a wide variety of local nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels and Gateway House, and went on to lead several key organizations in healthcare, church, schools, and youth causes.

 Mary Lou once served as president of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County; a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church; member of the board and numerous committees of the Northeast Georgia Health System; and board member of the Northeast Georgia Speech Center, which serves children with disabilities. She also was very supportive of local Girl Scouts, particularly in honoring the work of area women through her involvement with the Woman of Distinction award program.

 Mary Lou also loved flowers and gardening, winning numerous awards for her beautiful arrangements. In addition to garden clubs and working in her own yard, she led the Chancel Flower Guild at her church, First Presbyterian.

 In recognition of her leadership in such a broad spectrum of community areas, Mary Lou was named Woman of the Year in 1990 by the Gainesville Rotary Club. 

In addition to her husband John, Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Thurman Clyde Greer and Luttie Windham Greer. She is survived by her daughter, Meredith Melvin Weaver of Atlanta, Ga.; son, John Marshall Melvin, Jr. (Sara Moss Melvin) of Atlanta, Ga.; beloved grandchildren John Frederick Weaver, John Marshall Melvin, III, and Virginia Windham Melvin; brother T.C. Greer (Marty Greer) of Chula, Ga.; sister-in-law Jane Melvin Eberhart (Frank Eberhart) of Athens, Ga.; sister-in-law Ann Melvin Tatum (John Tatum) of Savannah, Ga.; and six nieces and nephews and their families. 

The family is especially grateful to Carolyn Young and Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center for their loving and compassionate care for Mary Lou.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts in Mary Lou’s honor be contributed to First Presbyterian Church (www.fpcga.org/giving), 800 Enota Ave, Gainesville, Ga., 30501.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com 

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.