Obituary of Melba Whitener

A graveside service for Melba Floyd Whitener, 69, will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 in Greenlawn Memorial Park with Rev. Msgr. Richard D. Harris officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening at Greenlawn Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the SPCA, 121 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209 in Melba?s memory. On-line condolences may be sent to www.greenlawn-columbia.com. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements. Mrs. Whitener departed this earthly life on Saturday, March 31, 2012. She was born in Greensboro, NC on August 21, 1942 to George A. Floyd and Marjorie Hall Floyd. Melba moved to Columbia, SC in the mid 1950?s and graduated from Dreher High School in 1961. Melba had a great love for animals and people. She was always eager to help others with their children and their pets. Melba had a big, generous heart and she always knew how to have a fun time and made friends easily. She was affectionately called ?Mimi? by her family and she will be greatly missed. Melba was predeceased by her parents, her son, Douglas Richard Whitener, Jr., and her sister, Carol Nicholson. Surviving are her loving husband, Douglas Richard Whitener, Sr.; her daughter, Lisa Kelley and her husband, Robert Kelley; her grandchildren, Hayley Hancock, Brandon Holland, Nic (Wanda) Kelley, and Zoe Kelley; two great-grandchildren, Joshua Chavis and Kendall Hancock; her beloved best friends, JoAnn Rodgers and Frances McGraw; a host of other loving relatives and friends that will miss her dearly. A special thanks is extended to the doctors and staff at Providence Hospital, Forest Drive for their care and support of Melba during her brief illness.