Myers, Edna Melissa (Age 83) of Indian Head, Maryland

Edna "Melissa" Myers of Bryans Road, Maryland, departed this life on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at the Brandywine Nursing Home in Wilmington, Delaware after a brief illness.  She was born on September 6, 1936 to the late Theodore Oliver Stringer Sr. and Florenda Sofia Dyson Stringer, the second of nine children. Melissa was educated in the Charles County Public School System and raised in the Metropolitan Methodist Church (currently United Methodist Church).

In her early years, she met and married the late Alvin F. Myers, and from that union four daughters were born. She later met her wonderful soul mate, Douglas N. Watson and from that union were born twin girls. After the death of her sister Bun, she raised two nieces and a nephew as her own. Melissa worked various occupations including an explosive worker, office clerk and mail clerk at the Indian Head Naval Base. After 17 years of service she realized that she no longer needed to work so she returned home to care for her grandchildren.

She was very talented in many ways such as arts and crafts, knitting, quilting, ceramics, gardening, and baking. Melissa was especially well known for her extraordinary sewing skills and sewing for her family, friends and clients.  She taught her children to be self-sufficient and tried to teach them all how to sew, with only half of them acquiring her sewing talent.  Melissa was a strong independent woman who was known for running a tight ship raising a house full of girls.  At one time she was referred to as the neighborhood police and "The  Warden". She loved Pepsi and all of her children knew not to touch her Pepsi stashed away in her closet. She enjoyed family gatherings as she hosted many events in her home in her earlier years. Although she had a huge family, they were all welcomed to celebrate the holidays and special occasions. She attended school events and was extremely proud of all of her children, grands and great-grands for their accomplishments, especially graduations. She had a very close bond with her brother Kenneth who affectionately referred to her as "Janie". She admired his extreme pleasant manner and would discuss him regularly. In her later years she enjoyed daily visits from her girlfriend "Baby Helen" Newman where they had many talks, laughs and enjoyed her homemade iced tea.

Melissa leaves an "incredible legacy with her family and friends. She was a devoted mother to her children, nieces and nephew.  She also raised her two oldest Grandsons, Lloyd Jr. and Michael Chesley and assisted with raising her other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Alvin F. Myers, soul mate Douglas N. Watson, parents, Theodore and Florenda Stringer, four grandchildren, George Ellis III, James Maurice Gray III, Lois Nicole Danielle Patrice Watson-Green, Devin Anthony Ryan King, brother Walter Kenneth Stringer Sr. two sisters, Vera L. "Bun" Gray and Annie V. Adams, in-laws George Ellis Jr., Joseph L. "Buck" Adams and James L. "DiDi" Adams, Ralph D. Sr & Constance Myers, Ralph Jr and Bertha Myers , Fred & Gloria Myers , Carl & Patricia Myers , Ines & Milton Hale, Gardnell Myers Sr, Sonny Myers, Lawrence Myers, Betsy Myers and Ronald Thomas.

She leaves to cherish her love and memories: six daughters, G. Vanessa Belle (Michael), Alvina Sadessa Ellis, Pamela Myers-King (Anthony), Constance Patrice Maddox, Valerie Rochelle Watson-Green (Joseph "Eddie"), Vivian Rachael Green (Ervin), two nieces, Lisa D. Roberson (Craig), Justine Shuree Shoyelu-Conteh (Samuel), nephew James Maurice "Junie Man" Gray Jr, son-in-law Frances C. "Boo" Maddox , 19 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, 2 brothers, Theodore O. Stringer Jr., William R. Stringer, 3 sisters Evelyn F. Davis (Issac), Mary Ann M. Stringer, Dianne L. Adams, and in-laws James Maurice Gray Sr, Barbara Jean Myers, Shirley Thomas,  Lillie Mae Browne (Paul), Carrie Myers, Edna Mae Myers, Elaine Myers,Robert Myers (Queen), Ronald Myers (Darlene), Leon Myers (Pearl).

Her viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until noon in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640. Private family services will be held directly after.

Interment, Heritage Memorial Cemetery, 13472 Poplar Hill Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20601.