Melvadeen Friday

Melvadeen Friday, 88, a longtime resident of Blytheville, Arkansas, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. She was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas to Walter & Bertha (Sorrells) Talbert on December 18, 1929. She was married for 62 years to the love of her life, Wayne Friday. They were high school sweethearts at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is survived by her 4 children: Nancy Lynn Weidman, Dale Friday, Don Friday and Denise Henderson (& her husband, David); along with one sister, Inez Hathaway, of Fort Smith, Arkansas. She had 2 brothers, Edward Talbert and Lawrence Talbert, who have gone home to be with the Lord, as well as a son-in-law, Steve Weidman, who passed away in 1998. Melvadeen also has 11 grandchildren (Michael Weidman (& Rhonda), Deena Rogers, Aaron Weidman (& his wife, Rhonda), David Henderson, Jr. (& his wife, Aldara), Brian Henderson (& his wife, Kat), Ross Henderson (& his wife, Brittany), Allison Turner (& her husband, Travis), Marshall Friday (& his wife, Delisi), Casey Friday (& his wife, Jessica), Timothy Friday (& his wife, Ashley) and Daniel Friday, deceased); 17 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren and many nieces & nephews. She has been in New Port Richey, Florida for the past 5-1/2 years where she lived with her daughter, Denise, and son-in-law, David Henderson, after suffering a traumatic brain injury/stroke. Melvadeen was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Blytheville, where she taught Sunday School for 54 years to young women; she served as Director of Woman’s Missionary Union (and many other leadership roles in WMU); sang in the choir; she was the church clerk and served as the Pastor’s secretary for several years in the 60’s. For several years she taught new believers in a small group study on “The Baptist Faith and Message.” Melvadeen served on the State WMU Executive Board for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention for many years and also worked as a secretary for the convention director in Little Rock. She served for several years on the state Acteens Committee and numerous other positions in state WMU work over 5 decades. Melvadeen was also a longtime member of Blytheville Woman’s Club and served in a variety of roles within the organization, also being involved in Arkansas GFWC. She was always giving to other people and wanting to enrich the lives of those around her. Melvadeen had a passion for missions and a heart for people like no other. Her ministry to young wives/mothers is stilled remembered by the young women who are now “sharing their stories” of how she touched their lives. After suffering a subdural hematoma in 2012, she spent several months in hospitals and rehab centers in recovery. Even when she couldn’t utter a word, she was touching the hearts of everyone she encountered. She truly experienced a miracle of healing from the stroke and went on to live in Florida with her daughter and son-in-law. She joined Eagle’s Landing Baptist Church in Port Richey where her son-in-law, David Henderson, serves as Pastor and her daughter, Denise, serves as Music & Worship Leader. She fell in love with the people of Eagle’s Landing and they fell in love with her. Melvadeen will be greatly missed by her friends & family and all who knew her.