Melvin Dean Snead, 80, of Mathews, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with cancer, on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016.

His passions in life were his family, training rabbit beagles, teaching and politics.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy L. Snead; daughters, Tracy Respess (Robert), Shannon French (Corey), and Ashley Stevens (Grant); grandchildren, Katherine and Coleman Respess, John French, Sawyer and Sadie Stevens; four nieces, and his sister, Carolyn Jones of Florida.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, Foster, Virginia. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Mathews Vol. Fire Dept., P.O. Box 1130, Mathews, Virginia 23109 or to the Mathews Vol. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 730, Mathews, Virginia 23109.

Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, is in charge of the arrangements.