Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

Melvin L. Stone Sr.

Sept. 24, 1950 - Apnl 14, 1997

Mr. Melvin Lorenzo Stone Sr. 46, beloved husband, father and grandfather, formerly of South Bend, who resided at 9703 Birch St., OakIand, Calif., passed away on April 14, in El Paso, Texas.

On Sept. 24, 1950, in Michigan City, Ind., he was born to the union of Malachi L. and Juanita Stone. He was united in wedlock to Emma Bridges on Sept. 29, 1985. In 1990, Melvin moved to Oakland after living briefly in South Bend, where he was a member of Charity Temple Church of God in Christ. After moving to Oakland, he was a member and associate minister at the Love Center Ministries under the pastorate of Bishop Walter L. Hawkins.

Also, he was employed by the United Construction Worker's Association.

Minister Stone leaves to mourn his passing his wife Emma Marie Stone of Oakland; eight daughters, Iris L. Stone of Michigan City, Nyghia I. Stone, Melva L. Stone Nyemha N. Stone, Charmel J. Stone, Charmane R. Stone, and Doris E. Stone, all of Oakland, and Deandra M. Stone of St. Louis, Mo.; three sons, De'Onte Stone, Fredachi B. Stone and Melvin L. Stone, Jr., all of Oakland; five grandchildren; his parents, Juanita I. Juarez and Malachi L. Stone; nine sisters, Milrene Raspberry, Deborah Stone, Charlene (Jean) George, Doris (Donald) Bond, Lupeta (Craig) Jackson, and Rosezetta Juarez, all of Oakland, Anner Ruth Stone Winbush and Gloria R. Stone, both of Champagne Ill., and Martha S. Stone of Great Falls, Mont.; four brothers, Michael (Patricia) Raspberry and Nathaniel Stone, both of Oakland, Fredrick (Katie) Stone of Michigan City and Sgt. Dexter Stone of Fort Riley, Kan.; and one sister-in-law, Barbara Lewis of South Bend, along with a host of other relatives and friends. A brother-in-law, Willie Lewis, preceded him in death in 1985.

Local funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, in Alford's Mortuary,1222 Napier St., South Bend, (219) 282-2477. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery. Funeral services were held in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 22, at 11 a.m. at Love Center Ministries. Alford's Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.