Melba Ruth (Perkins) Stephens

Melba Ruth Perkins Stephens, 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at home surrounded by her loving family under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.

Melba was born on February 10, 1937 to the late Quinelle Trull Perkins and Leonard C. Perkins.  She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior at the tender age of eight and never turned her heart away throughout her entire life. 

Melba graduated with honors from Odum High School in 1955, second out of twenty-five students in her class.  She served as secretary of her Junior and Senior Classes and lettered four years in cheerleading having also been a member of the Beta Club, Tri-Hi-Y Club, Music Club and the 4-H Club for all four years.  Melba proudly served on the yearbook staff and was a speaker at the graduation ceremony.  After high school, she attended Ware Tech where she received a diploma in Early Childhood Development before attending Brewton Parker Extension Classes. 

Melba married the love of her life, her late husband of seventy years, Jack Donald Stephens, on June 26, 1954. In her early years, Melba worked as a secretary at Wayne Truck and Tractor and had also worked as a secretary for a local lawyer, Ronald Adams before leaving behind her career to focus on the family business where she was a lifetime partner in Stephens Farms where she worked as Secretary, Bookkeeper and Office Manager.   She also worked faithfully in her church at Odum Baptist Church for many years serving as church secretary and clerk for eight years, Library Chairperson since its inception in the 1960’s and having served on many committees  while also holding several offices including the W.M.U. President. Melba volunteered her time for over thirty years in Vacation Bible School where she was Principal for several years.  She loved God’s word and had read the Bible from cover to cover at least fifteen times along with many commentaries and Bible helps. Melba taught Sunday School for over sixty-five years beginning at age seventeen, teaching the Young People, College and Career Class for over thirty three years.  She was honored by her Sunday School Class in 1970 for her love and dedication and again honored by the congregation in 2007 for her many years of faithful service. 

Melba was a grade mother every year her children were in school; she served as Vice President of the P.T.A. and also worked as a substitute teacher for many years.  She volunteered as an Odum Elementary Junior Cheerleading Director, leading the team to District Honors.  Melba served as chairman of Odum Schools yearly Sweetheart Pageant for several years and was also a former member of the Wayne County Demonstration Club, former member and chairman of Wayne County ASCS Committee, member of the Wayne County Farm Bureau and the Young Farmers and was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers. 

She was an accomplished seamstress, crafting everything from curtains, chair covers, suits, dresses, coats and small quilts. Melba was also a great cook and baker who made and decorated birthday cakes, and cookies.  She loved working in her flower garden and taking pictures.  She was an avid reader who also enjoyed sewing, freezing and canning vegetables.  Melba also documented her life on the farm on two different occasions for a publication called “Farm and Ranch Living Magazine.”

In addition to her parents and her husband, her three sisters, Dorothy Mallard, Joyce Quick and Greta Vinson; one brother, Eddie Perkins and three brothers-in-law, Demory Mallard, Joe Quick and Bob Vinson, all preceded her in death.

Survivors include her son, William C. “Dell,” Stephens and wife, Ronda of Odum; two daughters, Melanie Williamson and husband, Derrell and Michelle Blocker and husband, Jonathan all of Odum and four grandchildren, Dedra and Denise Stephens, Gerimi Palmer and wife, Jenny and Michael Williamson all of Odum and six great grandchildren, Tyler Palmer, Maisie Crosby and her husband, J.T., Stella Morris and husband, Braden, Saje Williamson, Dayla Godbee and Lanie Melba Grace Stephens. Two great great grandchildren on the way and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members also survive.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with Reverend Chad O’Quinn officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

Interment will follow in Red Hill Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Brooks Mallard, Mike Perkins, Mark Sigler, James Perkins, Gordy Campbell, Konner Stephens and Josh Fenn.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sheila Horton, Barbara King, Laverne Grant, Melba Green, Carol Steller, Loretta Whitson, Sharon Carver, Alex and Robert Jenkins, Kathy Sapp and Ronicea Reddish.

The family would like to extend a special word of thanks to her caregivers who worked tirelessly to ensure that her final days were as comfortable as possible, especially Kathy Sapp and Ronicea Reddish.

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