A fourth generation Californian, Melanie was born in Sacramento on October 13th, 1949, to Oliver Junior Carroll and Margaret Swift Carroll.
Melanie’s father’s career in the Air Force allowed the family to live all over the United Sates from Galveston, Texas, to Baltimore, Maryland, to Great Falls, Montana, as well as Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. She was chosen for Girls State in Montana, was a majorette, worked on student council, played sports (in high school she won the girls high jump and was such a good baseball player that she was always asked to join the boys playing first base), and enjoyed riding her grandfather’s pony. Melanie graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, California in 1967. She graduated with Honors from Sacramento City Junior College in 1969, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis in 1971.
After graduation from UC Davis, Melanie married the love of her life, Jeffrey, an Air Force officer, with whom she continued to travel the country and the world. They lived in 6 states, the Panama Canal Zone, and the United Kingdom. Through more than 26 years as an Air Force wife and wherever Jeffrey served the Air Force, Melanie served the community. From bases coast-to-coast and in Europe, she touched lives with kindness and served in multiple capacities to help people. In addition to being a wonderful mom to her children, she was an excellent mentor to hundreds of Air Force wives at the squadron, group, and wing level. She volunteered to enhance her children’s schools, as a reading mentor and as president of parent teacher organizations in South Carolina and Virginia. The local mothers of the village of Ixworth, Suffolk, UK chose her (an American!) as their Preschool Association President. Melanie earned two Angel Pins in recognition for her contributions to the base communities at RAF Bentwaters and Shaw AFB.
Melanie had a great love of family history and genealogy. She was a proud member of National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, National Society Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century, National Society of the Southern Dames of America, Hereditary Order of the Descendants of Colonial Governors, National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States, Baronial Order of Magna Carta, Military Order of the Crusades, Descendants of the Templar Knights, Order of the Merovingian Dynasty, National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, and The Pioneers. She was an associate member of the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames (Descendents of the Ancient and Honorable Families of New Netherland), a member of The National Gavel Society, and an Honorary Kentucky Colonel.
Melanie served in various leadership positions for many lineage societies, including Regent of Sumter’s Home Chapter and Williamsburg Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, President General for the National Society Children of the American Colonists, and a Senior National Officer for the National Society Children of the American Revolution.
Melanie served as National President for the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, which allowed her to work with many state chapters, including those in Hawaii, New York, Arkansas, Nebraska, and many other states. Melanie energized the NSDAC to raise nearly $100,000 towards restoring the Ten Bell Chimes of the Carillon, National Pilgrim Memorial Meetinghouse, Town Square “Mayflower Meetinghouse Visitors Center,” Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Melanie enjoyed reading, gardening, spending time with friends, finding a good sale, and birding. She was a bluebird advocate studying bluebirds since 1981, giving talks, setting up bluebird trails, and helping place nesting boxes.
Melanie was preceded in death by her parents; brother, James Leland Carroll; aunt, Dorothy Amanda Winn; cousin, Paula Winn Oates; and sister-in-law, Penny Carroll.
Melanie is survived by her husband of 53 years, Jeffrey Lee Platte; her son, Andrew (Virginia McGraw) of Charleston, South Carolina; daughter, Amy McHugh (Mark) of Charlotte, North Carolina; and five grandsons, Connor Platte, Alexander Platte, Holden Platte, James McHugh, and Jeffrey McHugh. She is survived by her brothers, Jerrald Carroll of Sacramento, California, and Bruce Carroll of Etna, California. She also survived by her beloved golden retriever, Colonel.
Until the very end, Melanie bravely fought her battle with a rare form of leukemia with the mantra “never never never give up” and with her loving husband always by her side.
Melanie will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on February 19th, 2025 at 2:00 pm. A celebration of life will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg, Virginia on Saturday, January 11th at 4:00 pm with a visitation from 2:30-4:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the organization of your choice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.
