Melissa S. Thurmond

Beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and best friend. Melissa died on Wednesday, 23 March 2022, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on 20 February 1935. Her family moved to Dallas in 1946. She was a graduate of Highland Park High School in the class of 1952.

Melissa attended Christian College in Columbia, MO. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in the class of 1956 with a Degree in Education. Melissa was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. While attending University of Texas, she was selected as a Bluebonnet Belle and was judged as one of the ten most beautiful of the Belles. Melissa was also a runway model performing with grace and elegance.

Melissa was a member of The First Baptist Church of San Antonio for 55 years and was a member of the Sanctuary Choir. She was the Secretary of the 10th grade Sunday School Department for 22 years. Melissa was a long-term discussion leader in the Bible Study Fellowship. She was also an active member of the San Antonio Junior League for several years.

She lived the adventure of life, fully, rich in grace, thoughtfulness, fun, and laughter. Melissa met a stranger only once and were friends thereafter. She was a gifted classical pianist and a creative and talented artist. She could see something as it was and could envision what it could be. Melissa was a happy collector of antiques and illustrated children’s books.

Melissa was preceded in death by her parents, Mabel and Kenneth Strock. She is survived by her husband, Jimmie Thurmond, Jr.; sons, Jimmie Thurmond, III (Louise) and Carter Thurmond (Sharon); daughter, Melissa Dedmon (Mark). She is also survived by six grandchildren, Carter Thurmond, Jr. (Christina), Marshall Thurmond, Lacey Thurmond, Jack Thurmond, Morgan Dedmon, Joshua Dedmon (Olivia), and one great-grandchild, Cameron Dedmon. Additionally, she is survived by her brother, Bill Strock (Shelley) and his children Anne Schiller (Chuck) and Matthew Strock (Christy) and their children; her, sister-in-law Jane Thurmond Gregory and her children Gale Gregory and Charles Gregory (Terry) and their children.

An endless debt of gratitude is forever owed to a superb group of caregivers for the love and care given to Melissa over the years. They are Natalie, Sylvia, Julie, Nikki, Jacob, Veronica, Laura, Ila, and Hospice Nurse, Erin. Well done noble friends.Viewing hours will be between 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at Porter Loring Mortuary.

MEMORIAL SERVICEWEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 20222:00 PMFIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that remembrances be sent to the TV ministry of First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 515 McCullough, San Antonio, Texas, 78215, The Alzheimer’s Association of San Antonio, 7400 Louis Pasteur, Suite 200, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, or the charity of your choice.