Visitation: Saturday, December 28, 2019
Visitation Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Visitation Location: St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church
302 Church Street
Leesburg, Florida
Service Date: Saturday, December 28, 2019
Service Time: 11:00 AM
Service Location: St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church
302 Church Street
Leesburg, Florida
Obituary:
Mrs. Melvenia Rivers Wells, 101, of Leesburg, transitioned from labor to reward on Monday, December 16, 2019. Melvenia was born in Bartow, Florida, on February 27, 1918, to parents John and Josephine Rivers. She was the oldest girl of five siblings, which forced her immediately into a role of leadership and responsibility. She became an awesome homemaker and cook. Those skills she continued throughout her life.
During her younger years, she was extremely active in the Mount Olive Methodist Church Sunday School and Young People’s League. “Mel”, as she is sometimes known, attended Leesburg Training School in Leesburg, Florida, where she met and later married her high school sweetheart Robert Wells, Sr. Shortly after marriage, Mel gave birth to her only child, a boy whom they named Robert Wells, Jr. In a never-ending search to better themselves, the Wells family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey. Shortly after their arrival, Mr. Wells went into the Beauty Culture industry. In 1956 Mrs. Wells joined her husband in the business, which was expanding by leaps and bounds. That venture became Wells and Smith Beauty Supply, the largest minority owned beauty supply company in the tri-state area.
Mrs. Wells, in her search for perfection, enrolled in evening classes, dealing with mathematics and associated subjects. As a supremely professional woman, Melvenia has served in numerous positions of authority, such as Treasurer of their corporation, and most notably, as Vice President of the Stewardess Board #2 at Calvary C. M. E. Church, Jersey City, N.J. She had a warm heart and good business practices which contributed to produce efficient and successful entrepreneurial ventures.
Melvenia is survived by two grandchildren, Sharynn Porter (Lance), and Keith (Evelyn); eight great grands and seven great great grands. Also a Sister in Law, Christine Rivers (101 yrs old), a host of Nieces, Nephews and a plethora of friends and well wishers. The years have seen the family numbers lessen, but she was still a pillar of stability for all through her One Hundred and One Years of life.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from 10:00AM until services begin at 11:00 AM, St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church, 302 Church Street, Leesburg with Pastor Woodrow Leeks, II, officiating. Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Orange Bend, FL.
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