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02/03/10 - NNHS Newsletter - Mellie Davis English Mellie Frances Davis English (21 Jan 1949 - 30 Jan 2010) Newport News High School / Warwick High School Class of 1967

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,    

   There is more sad news today.      Mellie Davis English, Newport News High School / Warwick High School Class of 1967, passed away in Hampton on Saturday, January 30, 2010 just nine days after her 61st birthday.  She was the sister of Diane Davis Hill ('61) of VA (and sister-in-law of Mack Hill - '61 - of VA) and of Frankie Davis (Warwick HS).

Carol,

Mellie Davis English died Jan. 30. She went to NNHS, but I think she transferred to Warwick where she graduated. Her obit is in the Daily Press

   Thank you so much, Cheryl; I did not recognize what I was reading.

           Mellie Davis English

				HAMPTON - Mellie English, 61, passed away on Jan. 30, 2010. She was the co-owner of Hoss's Deli for 18 years and coordinated and sponsored benefits for the following, Toys for Tots, March of Dimes, Relay For Life, Shop with a Cop, Red Cross Blood Drive and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, just to name a few. Survivors include her daughter, Tiffany McRae; sister, Diane Hill; brother, Frank Davis; grandson, Ian McRae; niece, Christy Davis; and three nephews, Chris Pittman, Artie Pittman and Frankie Davis; dear friend, Priscilla Halverson; and beloved cat, Happy.
Memorial services will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Peninsula Funeral Home. Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.View and post condolences on our online guestbook at http://www.dailypress.com/guestbooks. Published in Daily Press from February 2 to February 4, 2010. Visit Guest Book

   Our deepest condolences are extended to Mellie's entire family and their friends at this time.

   This information is also posted here:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/memoriam-all.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/memoriam67.html

   From Cheryl Mays Howard ('66) of VA -  02/04/10, 7:48 AM - "In Memory":

I was fortunate to have three best friends during my childhood. I was 4 when we moved to Sycamore Avenue and Mellie lived across the street from me. She was my first friend and my first best friend. One of the first times I went to her house, her mom came to the door with a baby in her arms. I could see two tiny little feet sticking out of a blanket. The baby was Mellie’s brother Frankie. When he got old enough to talk he would sing, "Daby, Daby Crockett, King of the wind pumptier".

Mellie always surrendered to my favorite game, “Let’s take turn singing songs”. She endured my mischievous pranks. When she was about 4, I suggested to her that if she walk down the street with her pants around her ankles …She graciously agreed. Mrs. Smith our neighbor yelled out, “Mellie Davis, I am going to tell your mother”. Mellie turned to me, waiting for me to do the same, trusting me…but I would not! She was still my faithful friend even when mischievous pranks got her in trouble.

We played until sundown, kick the can, hide and go seek, hop-scotch, and jacks. We shared kitties, dolls, measles, mumps and scarletina. However; we did not share Mellie’s big black shaggy dog, “Sambo”. In fact, I mostly ran from him. When she named her cat “Kitty Bob" after her dad, I named mine “Kitty Roselle” after my mom.

We braved all-nighters on Halloween, trading and eating most of our candy. We shared treats when “Shorty” delivered them from Manning’s Grocery store on the days we faked being "too sick for school”. We carried out the unique tradition of “stomping Valentine’s” together, leaving our Valentine’s on the porch’s of our friends, stomping real loud and running. Of course, everyone had wooden porches back then!

Mellie was at my house when dad tried to teach me long division. He got so frustrated and yelled “Don’t give me any slack jaw or I’ll give you the hickory tea”. After the fear left Mellie’s eyes, we laughed about that for many years.

I was president of the “Beauty Girls Club” and Mellie was the first charter member. The club consisted of Mellie, her sister Diane, and me. We were way ahead of “Wonder Woman” as we “flew” all over the hill behind my house. Millie’s sister was so beautiful with dark black hair and dark complexion. She said “Chief Custalow was her grandfather”. They sometimes visited the Indian Reservation.

Mellie even shared her mom who made the best chocolate cake ever. She was just as sweet and kind as Mellie. She never told me to go home when I spent hours at her house. I remember thinking that Millie’s dad looked like Clark Kent and that he must have been a movie star. He took us to an old time revival one time and although I don’t remember much about it, I remember we laughed a lot. I almost think I remember that a bug went up the preacher’s nose.

We joked about my brother taking her sister out on a date in his first car. Our friendship weathered many fights but we always “made up”. When she moved away and we drifted apart, Mellie sometimes called me to sing at a party she was giving.

Sometimes we allow life to keep us from doing the things we later wished we had done. Just a few years ago, Mellie called me on my birthday but I was not home. I tried to call her back but never was able to get her. I wish I had tried harder. Every birthday since, I think of her and the sweet message she left me. Little did I know that time was running out. I thought we would connect again one day. Our daughters actually graduated high school together, but somehow I must have been too preoccupied to realize it and missed another opportunity.

Mellie, your sweet spirit will always be remembered. Rest well, Mellie, I will not forget you. My childhood was richer having you as a friend. I hope to see you again one day and we will laugh about all our childhood pranks.


Cheryl Mays Howard

   Thank you for this beautiful remembrance, Cheryl; my sincerest sympathies on the loss of your dear friend.

  Y'all take good care of each other!  TYPHOONS FOREVER!  We'll Always Have Buckroe!

                          Love to all, Carol

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NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

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Carol Buckley Harty
618-530-9092

Dolly's Funeral

-  Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(07 May 1840 - 06 Nov 1893)

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