1918
Melba
2015
Melba Wash
August 6, 1918 — January 14, 2015
Melba Eurydice Wash passed away at 96 years of age on January 14, 2015, in Martin, TN.
She was born in 1918 in Benton, TN, to John and Marchia Wilson. She graduated from Polk County High School in 1935, and from Berea College in Kentucky in 1939. She taught school in Polk and Scott counties while attending Peabody College in the summers. She earned her library degree from Peabody in 1942, and began her career as assistant librarian at the McDonough School near Baltimore, MD, eventually becoming the head librarian there. She left that position in 1946 to become a Special Services Librarian with the Army. While in the service, she spent two years in Germany and visited many other European countries, sparking a lifelong love of travel. Through the years, Melba was able to see much of the United States, as well as travel to Taiwan, Japan, Israel, and Australia.
In 1949, Melba began working for Tennessee’s Regional Library System. In West Tennessee she ran a bookmobile and worked with local library boards to set up libraries. She retired as Director of the Reelfoot Regional Library in 1991, after 42 years of service. She received the Tennessee Library Association Honor Award in 1994, for her contributions to library and information services in Tennessee.
Melba considered librarianship to be a calling, not just a job. As such, she actively served in the library at First Baptist Church in Martin, where she was a longtime member.
She was predeceased by her husband, George and her sisters: Sara “Kay” Summerville of Ridgway, PA, and Dorothy Crisman of Chattanooga, TN.
She is survived by her brother, Dr. John W. Wilson, Jr. of Conway, SC, as well as by several cousins. Her numerous nieces and nephews remember her fondly as “Aunt Ricky.”
A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 conducted by Dr. Mike Sams and Dr. Darryl Crim. The family will receive visitors on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at First Baptist Church from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M . Burial will be at East Side Cemetery. Murphy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 289, Martin, TN 38237
She was born in 1918 in Benton, TN, to John and Marchia Wilson. She graduated from Polk County High School in 1935, and from Berea College in Kentucky in 1939. She taught school in Polk and Scott counties while attending Peabody College in the summers. She earned her library degree from Peabody in 1942, and began her career as assistant librarian at the McDonough School near Baltimore, MD, eventually becoming the head librarian there. She left that position in 1946 to become a Special Services Librarian with the Army. While in the service, she spent two years in Germany and visited many other European countries, sparking a lifelong love of travel. Through the years, Melba was able to see much of the United States, as well as travel to Taiwan, Japan, Israel, and Australia.
In 1949, Melba began working for Tennessee’s Regional Library System. In West Tennessee she ran a bookmobile and worked with local library boards to set up libraries. She retired as Director of the Reelfoot Regional Library in 1991, after 42 years of service. She received the Tennessee Library Association Honor Award in 1994, for her contributions to library and information services in Tennessee.
Melba considered librarianship to be a calling, not just a job. As such, she actively served in the library at First Baptist Church in Martin, where she was a longtime member.
She was predeceased by her husband, George and her sisters: Sara “Kay” Summerville of Ridgway, PA, and Dorothy Crisman of Chattanooga, TN.
She is survived by her brother, Dr. John W. Wilson, Jr. of Conway, SC, as well as by several cousins. Her numerous nieces and nephews remember her fondly as “Aunt Ricky.”
A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 conducted by Dr. Mike Sams and Dr. Darryl Crim. The family will receive visitors on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at First Baptist Church from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M . Burial will be at East Side Cemetery. Murphy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 289, Martin, TN 38237
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