Melanie Roberts O'Rear

Melanie Roberts O’Rear passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on August 29th at Hospice of West Alabama after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer. A celebration of life will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church on Thursday September 4th at 1:00 PM with visitation beginning two hours prior, with the Rev. Penny Ford officiating. Burial will follow in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Heritage Chapel Funeral home directing.

Melanie was born June 23rd, 1962 in Tuscaloosa Alabama to the late Marcus Lafayette (M.L.) Roberts Jr and Edith Harper Roberts. She was the younger sibling of Marcus (Marc) Lafayette Roberts III, the loving wife to husband Dr. Michael (Mike) Ross O’Rear, a devoted and caring mother to Michael Ross O’Rear Jr and grandmother to Avery Claire O’Rear. She graduated from Central High School in 1980 and then graduated from The University of Alabama in 1984 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Education. She then worked in the College of Education Dean’s Office as Operations Coordinator for 39 years. She was guided by her faith and a lifelong member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and served on multiple administrative boards. She met the love of her life and soulmate, Mike O’Rear, and married in December of 1990. They had a son, Michael Ross O’Rear Jr, in April of 1996. Her one and only grandchild, whom she adored, Avery Claire O’Rear was born in May of 2024.

Melanie was a long time Alabama fan and season football ticket holder. She enjoyed traveling to away games for much of her adult life with her lifelong friend Judy Lamon and later with her husband Mike. Melanie was a loving wife, mother and grandmother (Mimi) who enjoyed traveling and nature. She enjoyed walking her dog Charlie. She had a passion and dedication for creating a warm, comforting and loving environment for her friends and family. This was on display at every holiday and family gathering where the food and decorations would be curated with the utmost care. She never met a stranger and truly cared for all. As she battled cancer in the last years of her life, her granddaughter Avery Claire proved to be a particularly bright spot in her life with her mood immediately lifting at the sight of her Spittlebug, no matter how the treatments and disease had her down. Melanie will be remembered for her strong devotion to friends and family and the constant outpouring of love she demonstrated daily. She was a bright spot in the lives of all who met her, bringing love and joy with every encounter. She will be remembered not only for what she did, but for how she made others feel: respected, empowered, and part of something greater.

She is survived by: her husband Dr. Michael Ross O’Rear, her son Michael Ross O’Rear Jr and his wife Brooke Smyly O’Rear, her brother Marcus Lafayette Roberts III and his wife Kimberly Sue Roberts, her granddaughter Avery Claire O’Rear, her nephew William Marcus Roberts, and her nieces Kristina Roberts Woodham, Amanda Joy Roberts and Melissa Roberts Sanders. She is preceded in death by her father Marcus Lafayette (M.L.) Roberts Jr, mother Edith Harper Roberts and niece Amy Roberts Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Hospice of West Alabama, or Kirklin Clinic at UAB. Honorary pallbearers are members of United Methodist Choir.