OBITUARY: Melva Seay

Melva Seay

Melva Pearl Asberry Seay, age 71, passed into the presence of her Savior on June 11, 2018, in Franklin, Tennessee, where she had resided for 34 years. She was born in Groom, Texas, on July 30, 1946. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Fannie Asberry. She is survived by her husband, David Seay of Franklin, daughters Laura Seay and Kathryn Seay, brothers- and sisters-in-law Mike and Carol Seay and Steve and Becki Seay, numerous nephews and nieces, and her lifelong friend from Groom, Mary Kay Johnson.

She graduated as Salutatorian from Groom High School in 1964, and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in elementary education from Texas Tech. In 1968, she was recognized as the first-ever top graduate in the newly-named College of Education at Tech. She taught public school in Lubbock, Texas, for six years and then taught three more years in Maypearl, Texas. She retired from teaching to be a full-time mother to Laura and Kathryn, whom she considered her proudest accomplishments. When Kathryn began kindergarten, she became a substitute teacher for 15 years at Liberty Elementary School in Franklin, Tennessee.

She was an active member of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood. Her passing culminated almost 30 years as a Sunday School teacher, first to single adults, and later to first and second graders. She took great joy in being involved in missions, helping to plan and participate in mission activities through the Woman’s Missionary Union and Women on Mission. She also participated in mission trips to Japan and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and volunteered at GraceWorks Ministries in Franklin.

A ministry especially close to her heart was to ensure that every child in her Sunday School classes received a birthday card. Then, for much of the 45 years of her marriage, she sent birthday, anniversary, and graduation cards every year without fail to all of her brothers- and-sisters-in-law, their children, and grandchildren.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to Lisa Graham, Justina Davidson, and the rest of the staff of Alive Hospice for their tender and loving care of Mrs. Seay.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at Brentwood Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13, and from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 at the church. The family suggests memorials be made to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, P.O. Box 2206, Brentwood, TN 37024 or to Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862-8200.

To leave a note for Melva’s family or share a memory, please sign the online guestbook.