Versie Collins Melton

Versie Collins Melton, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, peacefully passed away at her home in State Road on Thursday, February 11, 2021. She was 100 years old. Versie was born December 19, 1920, to the late William Andrew and Nina Jessup Collins in a log house in Surry County on the NC-Virginia line. When she was an infant, the family moved to Westfield, where they lived until she was nine. They then moved to Zephyr where she grew up. Versie graduated from Mountain Park High School in 1939; she loved to play basketball and square dance. In November 1940, she married Clarence Wilson Melton of Zephyr, and they lived briefly in Elkin before moving to State Road. They had three children, Clarence Wilson, Jr., who died as an infant, David Collins, and Rebecca Ann. Versie’s first jobs were at JCPenney and Chatham Manufacturing Company. She then worked as an aide at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital and later did private duty. When the children were at home, she and Clarence raised tobacco, corn, soybeans, and cattle, and had a large garden. After Clarence’s death in 1983, Versie enjoyed her large garden, growing both vegetables and flowers and sharing her crop with friends and family. She loved her family and would do anything for them. She took swimming lessons in her fifties so she could play with her grandchildren at the beach. She was fiercely independent her whole life and wanted to do everything for herself.  She insisted on living in her home by herself until her death.

Versie was the oldest living member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. In earlier years, she taught Sunday school and prepared many dishes for church functions.  She loved her church and was present whenever she was physically able. She also loved her community, and, until recent times, helped family and friends in any way possible. Her sweet spirit will be missed by all who loved her.

Versie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence; two sons, Clarence, Jr. and David Melton; two sisters, Rachel Myers (Gilbert) and Christine White (Ralph); and four brothers, James, Hal (Maxie), Cecil (Mabel), and Warren Collins. She is survived by daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Melton Kafer and her husband Charles William (Bill) Kafer of New Bern, NC; granddaughters, Alison Elizabeth Kafer (Dana Newlove) of Austin, TX; Lisa Michelle Kafer (Stanton Ezzell) of New Bern, NC; and Katherine Melton Kafer (Curt Pryor) of Wilmington, NC; great-grandchildren, William, Alison, and David Ezzell; and Ayden and Kafer Pryor; sister-in-law, Sarah Collins; and several nieces and nephews.

She will lie in state on Saturday, February 20, 2021 from 9:00am-1:00pm at Elkin Funeral Home. Due to covid, only a graveside service will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Crestwood Memorial Gardens in State Road, NC with Rev. John Attaway officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, PO Box 130, State Road, NC 28676; Disciples Fellowship Church, care of Sharon Poindexter, 1929 Mountain Park Rd, State Road, NC 28676; or Meals on Wheels, PO Box 309, Boonville, NC 27011.

The family would like to thank all of the relatives, friends, and neighbors who helped Versie over the years, especially Lucy Vestal, Charles Collins, Bunny Brown, Bonnie Baker, and the members of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.