Person Page - 4026

     Martin Luther Avis was buried at Fair View Cemetery, 3300 Melrose Ave. N.W., Roanoke, Virginia.¹ He was born on January 25, 1904 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ He married Hattie Bell Howell, daughter of Charles Albert "Charlie" Howell and Amanda Ester Wimmer, on January 9, 1943 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2 Martin Luther Avis died on June 3, 1957 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 53.¹

     Roscoe William Basham was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.¹ He was born on April 3, 1904 at Virginia.¹ He married Pauline Elizabeth Howell, daughter of Charles Albert "Charlie" Howell and Amanda Ester Wimmer, circa 1924.^1,2 Roscoe William Basham died on January 16, 1971 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 66.¹

     Louise Thelma Basham was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.⁸ She and Ernest Fredrick Hodges were divorced.² Louise Thelma Basham was born on October 20, 1925 at Roanoke, Virginia.^2,3,4 As of November 16, 1946,her married name was Hodges.² She married Ernest Fredrick Hodges on November 16, 1946 at Roanoke, Virginia.² Louise Thelma Basham died on April 6, 2006 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 80.^4,8,9 She Louise Basham (Snooky) Hodges, 79, of Roanoke, passed away Thursday, April 6, 2006. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roscoe W. and Pauline E. Basham, her daughter Brenda Hodges Ballou, and her sister Mearline Basham Miller Melson. Survivors include her son, Ernest F. "Buddy" Hodges; niece, Carolyn Miller Straughen and her husband, W. Kelly Straughen, Sr. of Harrisonburg; nephews, L. David Miller and his wife, Yvonne Mills Miller of Vinton and A. G. Melson, Jr. and his wife, Susan C. Melson of Roanoke. Also surviving are seven great-nieces and great-nephews, W. Kelly Straughen, Jr. of Harrisonburg, Erin Kate Straughen and her fianc Douglas Pascarella of Port Republic, Summer Miller Jones and her husband, Michael Jones of Grand Junction, Colo., Darren M. Petty of Roanoke, Lauren E. Petty of Roanoke, W. Kirk Straughen of Port Republic and Jonathan T. Melson of Roanoke; and lastly, a great-great-nephew, Miller Otley Jones of Grand Junction, Colo. Louise graduated from William Fleming High School and was a great pet lover and caregiver and was an advocate for the humane treatment of animals. Her special interest included shopping and fashion and she was a lover of music. Mrs. Hodges was a community services program driver for the League of Older Americans for more than ten years. She filled in as a volunteer on any Meals-on-Wheels route which did not have a driver for any given day. She would run as many as three routes, reaching more than sixty shut-ins. Those receiving the meals looked forward to the friendly visits from "Snooky" Hodges and she developed a close relationship with those on every route throughout the Greater Roanoke area. In addition to working tirelessly for the League of Older Americans, she cared for her mother until her mothers death in 1994. The funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at Oakeys Vinton Chapel with Pastor Frank Feather officiating. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Oakeys Vinton Chapel Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. Arrangements by Oakeys Vinton Chapel, 982-2221. on April 10, 2006.⁸

     Ernest Fredrick Hodges was buried at Monte Vista Church of the Brethren Cemetery, 25 Wades Gap Road, Callaway, Franklin Co., Virginia.² His Social Security Number was 224-24-3986.³ He and Louise Thelma Basham were divorced.¹ Ernest Fredrick Hodges was born on March 14, 1923 at Franklin Co., Virginia.^4,3 He married Louise Thelma Basham, daughter of Roscoe William Basham and Pauline Elizabeth Howell, on November 16, 1946 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ Ernest Fredrick Hodges died on October 6, 1985 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 62.²

     Her Social Security Number was 231-24-3610.⁶ Mearline V. Basham was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.³ She was born on October 13, 1927 at Roanoke, Virginia.^2,6,8 As of circa 1949,her married name was Miller.⁶ She married Ollie Jackson "Jack" Miller circa 1949.^6,9,3 As of March 3, 1963,her married name was Melson.² Mearline V. Basham married Allie Gene Melson Sr. on March 3, 1963 at Bedford Co., Virginia.^2,3 Mearline V. Basham and Allie Gene Melson Sr. were divorced on December 11, 1968 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.⁸ Mearline V. Basham died on July 23, 2004 at Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 76.^6,9,3 She Mearline B. Miller Melson, of Vinton, passed away Friday, July 23, 2004. She was a daughter of Roscoe and Pauline Howell Basham, formerly of Roanoke. She was also preceded in death by her husbands, Ollie Jackson Miller and Allie Gene Melson. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Roanoke, and retired from the Norfolk-Southern Corporation with 30 years of dedicated service. While there, she was the National Association of Railroad Business Womens Chapter President, District I Director, and National Woman of the Year 1998. She was active with the Roanoke City Rescue Mission and their Women's Shelter. She was very dedicated to the program of the Bible Study Fellowship. She was a member of the Second Amendment Sisters and a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. Ms. Melson graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Western Community College with an Associate degree in Applied Science with a Major in Management. She was a member of Kiwanis and the Christian Women's Association. Surviving are three children and their spouses, Carolyn Miller Straughen and husband W. Kelly Straughen, of Harrisonburg, L. David Miller and wife Yvonne Mills Miller, of Vinton, A.G. Melson, Jr. and wife Susan C. Melson, of Roanoke County; seven grandchildren, W. Kelly Straughen, Jr., E. Kate Straughen, W. Kirk Straughen, Summer Miller Jones and husband Michael D. Jones, Darren M. Petty, Lauren E. Petty, Jonathan T. Melson; and a sister, Louise B. Hodges of Roanoke. The funeral service will be conducted from the First Baptist Church, Roanoke, at 2 p.m. Monday, July 26, 2004 with Pastor Dr. James W. Austin officiating. Burial will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Oakey's Vinton Chapel, 982-2221. on July 25, 2004.³

     Allie Gene Melson Sr. was born on January 27, 1923 at Arkansas.² He married Mearline V. Basham, daughter of Roscoe William Basham and Pauline Elizabeth Howell, on March 3, 1963 at Bedford Co., Virginia.^1,3 Allie Gene Melson Sr. and Mearline V. Basham were divorced on December 11, 1968 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.²

     Ollie Jackson "Jack" Miller was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2 He was born on February 9, 1924 at Vinton, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,2 He married Mearline V. Basham, daughter of Roscoe William Basham and Pauline Elizabeth Howell, circa 1949.^4,1,3 Ollie Jackson "Jack" Miller died on November 17, 1959 at Low Moor, Alleghany Co., Virginia, at age 35; Died in a plane crash.^1,2

     Her married name was Ballou.¹ Brenda Hodges married Unknown Ballou.¹ Brenda Hodges was born on August 27, 1953.² She died on June 30, 1998 at Hillsborough Co., Florida, at age 44.²