Melanie Lynnette Harris

     Melanie Lynnette Harris passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on April 19, 2018, surrounded by her loving family.  She began her precious life as a 2 pound 13 ounce premature baby.  She was born on February 8, 1957 in Chicago Illinois to Leo Raymond Harris, Jr and Vera Mae Harris.  Tiny Melanie overcame her challenges, thrived, and reached the 5 pound requirement she needed in order to be discharged home to the delight of her parents.  She is the oldest of four daughters.  Her siblings are Adrienne Michele, Stephanie Kay, and Paula Elizabeth.  She spent her childhood years in Highland Park, Michigan, moving with her family to Maryland in 1971.  She attended Benjamin Tasker Middle School and Bowie Senior High School, graduating in 1976.     After graduating from Bowie Senior High School, she enthusiastically helped her mother establish a home-based day care.  Over the next 19 years, Melanie and her mother lovingly cared for and nurtured a multitude of children.  These children and their parents became a part of our extended family and loved Melanie dearly.       Melanie had a great love for music and God gifted her with the ability to play the piano beautifully.  She started piano lessons at the age of 11 and has studied with her beloved music teacher and precious friend, Mrs. Amaryllis Price, for more than 30 years.       Melanie loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and thoroughly enjoyed worshipping Him and being with her church family each Sunday.  Her life illuminated the joy of the Lord, which radiated from her beautiful smile.       Melanie was preceded in death by her loving father, Leo Raymond Harris, Jr.  She leaves to love and cherish her memory her precious mother, Vera Mae Harris; her devoted sisters, Adrienne Michele Harris and Stephanie Kay Harris of Bowie, MD, and Paula Elizabeth Bedford (James) of Dumfries, VA; she was adored and cherished by her niece, Shannen LeNay Moon (Terry) of Richmond, VA and her nephew, Devon Anthony Bedford of Dumfries, VA.  She is dearly loved and cherished by a host of relatives and a multitude of friends.   REFLECTIONS FROM MELANIE'S LOVING FAMILY     Our Precious Melanie was a unique and very special person.  She was known for her beautiful and infectious smile, her unconditional love for everyone she met, her sweet and gentle nature, and her unwavering faith in God's goodness.  She loved life and she loved people.  This was evident to all who knew her.  She made everyone feel special when she saw them with her signature greeting and her warm, embracing hugs.  Her smile could light up an entire room and people often told us that her smile was her ministry, radiating the love of God.  Her love for her family was precious beyond measure.       Melanie had a phenomenal memory and could remember countless birthdays, anniversaries, and dates of special events.  She could even remember what the weather was like on the day of a special event.  She loved snow and kept track of the weather report during impending storms.  We affectionately called her our Weather Girl.       One of the joys of Melanie's life was her music and one of the joys of her family's life was her music.  We could listen to her play the piano for hours on end.  She looked forward to her weekly lessons with sheer delight and treasured her vast collection of music.       Melanie loved spending time with her family and especially enjoyed girls' nights out with her mother and sisters and summer trips to Sandy Cove Ministries.  She enjoyed mall trips, attending local plays, knitting afghans, clipping coupons, long car rides, chemo days, Rita's Italian Ice, Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade, popsicles, Chinese and Thai food, and her mother's wonderful holiday dinners.      Despite the challenges she had faced and all that she had been through over the last three years, Melanie never complained.  She never lost her beautiful smile and found joy in each and every day.  Melanie was a grateful person and appreciated everything that anyone did for her.  Her life leaves a beautiful legacy of abounding gratefulness, unquenchable joy, and unconditional love.  Our lives will be forever enriched by our precious Angel Melanie.