Melinda Frances Johnson

Mrs. Melinda Byrd Johnson passed away Wednesday, August 28, 2013, from complications arising from her recent struggle with cancer. Melinda was 49 years old and is survived by her husband of almost 25 years, David Randell Johnson; her children, Matthew, Emily and Audrey Johnson; her mother, Frances Byrd Currie of Huntsville; her brother, Bill, sister-in-law Cindy, niece, Rachel, and nephew, Hugh Byrd of Monrovia; her brother, Bart Byrd of Pensacola, Fla.; her sister, Adair Byrd of Huntsville; her uncle, Hugh Nicholson of Madison; and her in-laws, Randell and Sandra Johnson of Meridianville.

Melinda was born in Columbus, Ga., on January 23, 1964. She was the youngest of Frances and Glen Byrd's four children. In 1967, Melinda moved with her mother and siblings to Huntsville.

Melinda attended J.O. Johnson High School and received early admission to the University of Alabama in Huntsville. After completing two years of study there, she transferred to Emory University and received a B.S. in Physics. Melinda also received a master's degree and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She recently worked as a senior scientist for Teledyne Brown Engineering and before that at SAIC, and other companies in Huntsville.

Although all her family was proud of Melinda's academic and professional accomplishments, she loved and valued most, the life she created with David and the three wonderful children she considered blessings from God.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Roselawn Funeral Home, Decatur, with a memorial service to immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation or a charity of your choice .