Melissa Vaughn was born the eldest child to Mary Moody and Eddie James Williams on August
23, 1933 in Columbus, Mississippi. She had three siblings, Jessie (Jean) Corder-Benion who
has survived her and resides in Aliceville, Alabama and brothers, William Corder and Edward
Corder (Jessie’s twin), both preceding her in death. Melissa was the oldest member of her
family, living longer than all known members to date.
As a young teen, she met Louis Vaughn Jr., a handsome, young son of a Baptist preacher. On
what must have been a beautiful Christmas day, December 25, 1948, Melissa married, 19-year
old Louis and began the ride of her life that would last 30 years, taking them from sleepy
Columbus, Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois. To this union was born nine children, Louis Vaughn
III, Corless Flagg, Pinkie McDowell (Earnest), Terry Vaughn (Dee Dee), Stephanie Hughes
(Michael), Mark Vaughn, Mechele Dean (Floyd), Jeffery Vaughn, and Lucretia Bullock. As she
considered them gifts and blessings from God, she was blessed with nineteen grandchildren,
at least 43 great-grandchildren, and a host of great, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and
cousins from across the miles. To Louis, was born, Angel Hatley. Patrice Waller, Melinda Flagg,
and Colonie Flagg-Austin were born to Corless. To Pinkie and Earnest was born Lamar
McDowell. Stacey and Corless Vaughn are the daughters born to Terry. To Stephanie, Shawn
and Meckelle Hughes and Melissa Wardlow were born. Tamisha and Marshana Sprawls, Mark
II., and Debra Diane (Dee) Vaughn were born to Mark. To Jeffery, were born Shante Nelson
and Jequetta, and William Vaughn. Born to Lucretia, were Aaron and Ashley Bullock.
Melissa had many jobs throughout her lifetime, retiring from GTE Automatic Electric after 30
rewarding and productive years as a factory worker, often managing a second job in order to
make ends meet. For many years after her retirement, she continued working, seeking out
more opportunities to satisfy her passion of caring for people. She fulfilled this passion as an
in-home caregiver for two elderly women, providing compassionate care until each of their
deaths. Melissa satisfied her social pursuits by becoming an Eastern Star and traveling with
friends and family across the country. More than anything, she enjoyed hosting and caring for
her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Most of them remember fondly, that
“Granny’s House” was the place to be to enjoy her food, fun, laughter, and heart stopping
pranks. Before her illness set in, she was a Mother of Garden of Prayer Church in Broadview,
Illinois where she thoroughly enjoyed stretching out her vocal chords from the pew.
Three months after her 88 th birthday, Melissa was called home, on Tuesday, November 23,
2021. She passed away just as she had always prayed she would, peacefully, in her sleep, and
in her own home. For several years she battled dementia at first, and later Alzheimer’s, which
is attributed to her passing.