Melva Crawford Dallas

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. Her greatest joy was working with young people and watching them grow into young adults. She was also a member of the Cleveland Woman’s Club, the Bolivar County Hospital Auxiliary, and a Master Gardner.

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, Matt Thomas (Jacquelyn) of Clarksville, TN, Ashley Thomas Alexander (Morgan), Sam Thomas, and Brooke Thomas all of Madison, Lee McNeil of Olive Branch, Brendan Pernell, Isaac Dallas, Jesse Dallas, and Ezra Dallas all of Greenwood and two great-grandchildren, Massey Thomas and Brooks Alexander, 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 will be held Saturday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Home 1161 Highland Colony Pkwy, Ridgeland, Mississippi, with visitation to follow.