A famous writer once said, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give".

If that is true, then Melvin Decosta Plummer had a great life. He was the most giving person I've ever known. And judging from the nodding heads I see in front of me, it seems that many of you agree.

Melvin Decosta Plummer was born on June 12, 1945, in St. James, the capital of the well-known city of Montego Bay, Jamaica. He grew up in a district in St. James, called Catadupa.

He was the 9th child of twelve children born to Frederick Alfred Plummer and Zetella Moody. They lived in Catadupa all their lives, his mom from 1907 until her death in 1978 and his dad from 1893 and his service in World War II; to his death in 1986 at the age of 93 years old.

Melvin, affectionately called Neville, attended the Catadupa All Age School up to the ninth grade then went to work for his father rearing cows and planting sugarcane. He also worked growing ground provision which his mother sold in the Catadupa Market.

At the age of 24 years old, in 1969 he began working as a farm worker in the United States, Miami Lacks, Florida, at the United Sugar Corporation. He worked on a yearly contract as a machine operator and was a valued employee at this company as he was seen as a jack of all trades.

On one of his vacation trips back to the island, in 1977, he met Nerisa Beckford. They got married in 1978 and the union produced four children. Three girls, the third of which is the twin of the only boy. Suzzett, the oldest daughter, Donna the second, and Julian and Daymeon, the twins.

In 1992, he became a Permanent Resident and gained citizenship. He still worked at that company until 2004 when his wife Nerisa also migrated to live with him. He left Florida shortly after and they both relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His love for work and cooking earned him a job at Wake Forest University as a chef, at which time he was forced into early retirement due to an injury on the job.

This year, on the 22nd of August, Melvin and his wife Nerisa celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary.

Melvin was very active in his younger years and would quickly organize a game of dominoes among family members and close friends. He loved his family both immediate and extended, whom he always tried to stay in touch with. Melvin was well-known for his storytelling and crisp memory. His detailed descriptions would make listeners feel they themselves were there while everything being told was happening. Everyone from his family would call him if they needed times and dates for certain events in the family. He would be the one able to tell the birth dates and death year of each of his pre-deceased siblings and any other family members, even after his diagnosis with dementia in 2018 most of his long-term memory was still intact.

Melvin could clear a hearty plate of food and would always say, "Rain or Shine, the soldier must be fed." This statement would make everyone laugh. My sister would always say she did not have to be in the kitchen because her husband was such a terrific chef.

Melvin was such a fun-loving individual who loved life and tried his best to stay active, even after that injury to his knee slowed him down. It was, therefore, heartbreaking when he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer towards the end of 2022. He still took everything in strides and kept thanking God for life. His spirit remained high, and he never complained about any of his illnesses. In the beginning of 2023, things took a turn for the worse and Melvin spent most of this year in and out of the hospital. After the cancer diagnosis, his wife and daughter, Donna, whom he lived with did their best to keep him at home, however, the home was not equipped with the skilled care he needed, especially after his kidneys and heart failed. The very difficult decision was made to place Melvin in a skilled nursing home facility. Despite this, Melvin stayed faithful and would often say, "what God does, is well-done."

On July 29th, 2024, Melvin was rushed back to hospital due to loss of appetite because of an infection in the bladder. This infection travelled to his bloodstream, and he was placed in intensive care and was moved to the wards afterwards. He spent two weeks in the hospital and suffered three strokes while there. This resulted in seizures and landed him in intermediate care. He was released back to the wards then back to the care facility for rehabilitation. This was deemed futile, and he became unresponsive and was placed in hospice care within the facility.

On Thursday, September 5th, 2024, all the family members were called to come to say their goodbyes. Melvin peacefully slept away at 4:02pm surrounded by his family. Melvin Decosta Plummer leaves behind his wife, Nerisa; daughters, Suzzett, Donna, and Julian; and son, Daymeon; his beautiful granddaughters, Dayana, Abigail and Salome; sister, Cecile, sons-in-law, Orville and Henry; daughter-in-law, Leidy; a host nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers-in-law, and a many wonderful friends.

In closing, I would like to share this poem with you: Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you wake in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft starlight at night. Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there; I do not sleep. Melvin, thank you for being part of our lives. We are all going to miss you. May your soul rest in peace.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Friday, September 20, 2024 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 10:00am until 11:00am on Friday at the Chapel.