Melody Roxanne Rhoades, age 63, a lifelong resident of Gloucester, died peacefully in her home on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. She is survived by her sister, Connie Bowler (David); three special nephews, Brandon Bowler, Adam Bowler, and Robert Rhoades; special cousins, Nancy Belvin, Marcia Mickle, Amber Stephens, Rusty Kellum, and Daniel Belvin; her little dog, Rusty, and many other nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mel never had any children of her own, but was a mother to so many, especially her late brother John’s children, Rainin, Favour, and Dresden, and even more so when he was very sick. Mel was a hard worker. She worked for years as a bookkeeper for Shackelford’s Seafood, where she formed a special friendship with the owner, Tommy, and co-worker/friend, Pam Hudgins. Most recently, she worked at her cousin’s restaurant, Eggheads Diner. She was a mentor to the many young people that worked there. She would spend time teaching them how to cook, morals, values, and would try her best to get all the young people around her to not curse, but to use their vocabulary instead. She was famous for her meatloaf, so much in fact, that it made it to the menu as Cousin Mel’s Meatloaf, as well as her many different soups. She would often walk into the dining room and spend time making sure everyone was happy, and could be found sitting down with customers chatting, and inquiring about their lives. She had a special knack for being able to tell if someone was having a bad day from across the room, just by looking at them and would always ask if everything was ok. Mel never minced words, she spoke her mind, and told you how it was, with love. Mel was preceded in death by her dad, William E. Rhoades Jr.; mother, Rose Savage (Jenkins), and two brothers, William E. Rhoades III and John S. Rhoades. She will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives she touched. A very special thank you to the Riverside Hospice nurses, and special friends, Eva, Melissa, Cecelia, Sandy and Helen. The family received friends at Hogg Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 6-7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the chapel of Hogg Funeral Home on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 1 p.m., followed by burial in Rosewell Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held after the burial at Eggheads Diner.

Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home.