Mrs. Melda Lee Hartley Silk
Funeral services for Melda Lee Hartley Silk were held at 3:00 PM, Friday, March 25, 2016 at the First Baptist Church, Rayville, LA with Dr. Eddie Wren, Dr. Bruce Silk, and Leigh Anne Palin officiating. Interment followed in the Rayville Masonic Cemetery, Rayville, LA under the direction of Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Rayville.
Melda Silk, age 89, was born in Delhi, LA on July 24, 1926. She died on March 21, 2016 in Shreveport La after a brief illness. She is survived by one son and two daughters: Dr. Allen Bruce Silk and his wife, Ewella, of Greenville, MS and daughter, Ginny Kimbrough, of Eros, LA; Suzette Silk of Rayville LA and Leigh Anne Palin and her husband, Rick, of Norton, MA and their children, Jake Palin, of Norton, MA, and granddaughter, Julia Palin of Norton, MA.
She is preceded in death by her faithful husband, Allen Lee Silk of Rayville, La; mother, Ida Lee Wyatt Hartley, born near Crowville, La; father, Charles Hooker Hartley, born near Clinton, MS. Brothers, Charles Homer Hartley of Delhi, La; John Bernard Hartley of Rayville, La; Bobby Gene Hartley of Donaldsonville, La; George Norman Hartley of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Carl Hartley of Houston, Texas; Harry Hartley of Houston, Texas; Sisters, Ellen Inez Hartley Donaldson of San Antonio, Texas; Delma Hartley of Delhi, La; and Sallie Mae Hartley of Houston, Texas.
She is preceded in death by her grandson, Allen Bruce Silk II of Monroe, La. and great grandson, Jesse Kimbrough, of Eros, La.
Melda was loved by all she met. She was an inspiration to many people and she was recognized in many circles as a great achiever, leader or assistant. She moved in 1958 from West Monroe to Rayville.
Prior to her marriage to Allen Silk in May of 1947, she was employed in Rayville in 1943 by Coenen and Coenen , Attorneys, as secretary; she worked for other attorneys until she was employed in 1955 at the Richland Parish County Agent's office in Rayville, working for Mr. Basil Doles for 29 years. She and Mr. Doles retired simultaneously in 1984.
She began working for the Rhymes Memorial Library in 1991. Melda retired there in 2005, and began working part time for the Richland Parish 911 office, also serving as a volunteer at the LSU AgCenter in Rayville. While working at Rhymes Library, she was instrumental in establishing the Southern Pickin' and Ginnin' Festival, along with Sarah Aycock and Juanita Cochran. It was in existence for 12 years as a area-wide festival every fall.
She has been a member of the FBC of Rayville, La since February 2, 1958, faithfully attending and serving within the church in many positions: teacher of cradle roll department in Training Union; superintendent of intermediate youth department; program chairman for Saints Alive for 3 years; publicity committee chairman for mission project, “Signs of Life,” and served as wedding director for many weddings in the church.
Honors that she has received are numerous: She was especially proud to have held the Presidency of the American Legion Auxiliary for 40 years. Melda also helped with the Salvation Army, seeking volunteers to serve and help with the Angel Tree Ministry. Melda also was a charter member of Triad, an organization that worked with the Richland Parish Sheriff's office, planning for senior citizens of the parish. She helped to establish the “file for life” program.
Melda was a member for two years of the Northeast La. Arts Council, primarily helping with fund raising and promoted projects of the organization. She was a member of the Richland Unison choral group, singing and making presentations throughout the parish.
Her personal awards also included MELDA SILK DAY award, on April 26, 1998; Outstanding Community Service award from Governor Mike Foster; Rhymes Library award for establishment of the Elder Care Program; certificate from Rhymes Library for service to “Care Connections;” She also received the Pickin and Ginnin Festival award for outstanding service in 2001.
She received the distinguished Sellers Aycock Award; she was also recognized by the Beacon News as one of the “Outstanding Women of Richland Parish;” She presently was a charter member of the WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C. and WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Melda was an avid LSU Tiger fan, holding home game season tickets for many years, attending regularly until the 2013 season.
Many other accolades and honors were bestowed upon Melda Silk, who always humbly received each one of them with gratefulness. The family, community and state will miss her. I know she would fondly remember each person having crossed her path of life, thanking God for her opportunities to serve Him by blessing others.
Melda requested that all memorials be sent to the following of your choice: 1.LA Baptist Children's Home in Monroe, La; 2.First Baptist Church of Rayville's children's building fund; 3.Rhymes Memorial Library and 4.Mid-Delta Baptist Association in Cleveland MS. (toward the purchase of Experiencing God workbooks for prison inmates enrolling in a state-wide Leavell College ministry program for the New Orleans Baptist Seminary at Parchman).
Pallbearers were Dr. Lester Johnson, Charles Germany, Basil Doles Jr., Jim Adams, B.J. McKnight, and Mark Hartley.
July 24, 1926 - March 21, 2016