In Memoriam: Mamie Elizabeth Melton Younger

    Mamie Elizabeth Melton Younger began her final rest on April 12, 2017, at home with family and friends, from complications following a stroke in February, 2016. Mamie was born August 11, 1928, in Winnfield, Louisiana, to Riley Clinton Melton and her namesake, Mamie Elizabeth Gelvin Melton, who died in childbirth. Until the age of three, Mamie was raised by her Aunt Brassie and Uncle "Paw" Crooks, before joining her father, three older brothers, Riley Bowman, James Edward, and William Huey Melton, and the woman Mamie knew as her "second mother," Lilly Williams Melton, on the family farm. There, Mamie grew into the vivacious, caring person we remember, a free spirit who had the unique gift of making everyone feel special and loved. 
    Fulfilling a promise to her mother, Mamie's father sent her to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, where Mamie earned the distinction of serving as a "Purple Jacket" ambassador. While in the lunchroom at NSU, Mamie met Winston "Dub" Younger, and the two were married in June, 1949. Mamie completed her undergraduate degree from Northwestern in Dietetics, and following the couple's move to Baton Rouge, she earned her M.S. in Home Economics from LSU. After serving as lunch room manager at Lee High School from 1962 to 1967, Mamie became a fulltime homemaker to care for her daughters, Mary Patricia, Laura Elizabeth, and Martha Lynn, and utilizing her culinary skills, making midnight biscuits for Laura's husband, Robert Young "Buddy" Wicker. 
    In her middle years, Mamie became involved with a number of organizations: she was president of the Baton Rouge Genealogical Society, a member of the Baton Rouge Daylily Society, and active in the United Methodist Women. Her faith and family, including her grandchildren Robert Young "Trey" Wicker III and Elizabeth Winston Wicker, consoled Mamie after the passing of her beloved Dub in 1994. Mamie loved reading, gardening, and entertaining visitors with her lively conversation. Writing to family and friends was a favorite pastime; anyone receiving letters or cards from Mamie will recall her sense of humor and her graceful cursive covering every inch of paper. In her later years, Mamie relied on her daughters and a caregiver, Darlene Helm, whom she loved like a daughter, as well as her church, family and friends. 
    Visitation was held Tuesday, April 18th, at 9:00 a.m., followed by 11:00 a.m. service at Blackwater United Methodist Church. Burial followed at the Melton Family Cemetery outside of Winnfield at 3:30 p.m. Honorary pall bearers were Chase Chabaud, Glenn Davis, Glen Melton, Isiah Melton, Jon Schmidt, Trey Wicker and Robert Younger. In lieu of flowers, Mamie has requested donations to the Methodist Children's Home (www.lmch.org) or Blackwater United Methodist Church, Baker, Louisiana.