Freda S. Melody

Freda Dorothy Slone Melody passed away August 8, 2026, surrounded by family at Suncoast Hospice Care Center Mid-Pinellas. She was born at Mound Park Hospital (Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital) on July 24, 1930, and recently celebrated her 96th birthday.

Throughout the years, her greatest pleasure was found in caring for her family and spending time participating in their activities. During her years as a homemaker, in addition to her own children, her home was always filled with the neighborhood children, her nieces and nephews which she included in trips to the park, library or other activities as if they were her own children. She was a very loving and selfless person.

She was a member of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church since 1945 and was a former Deacon and later ordained as an Elder in 2005. She was always active at church by teaching children’s Sunday School classes, helping with Vacation Bible School, serving on the Fellowship Committee and serving meals to homeless people in the community.

She graduated from St. Paul’s High School in 1948. She then attended nursing school at St. Vincent’s Hospital, School of Nursing, in Jacksonville. FL for one year but got homesick and returned to St. Petersburg and worked at Florida Power Corporation (Duke Energy) until 1957. She was a homemaker until 1971 when she became employed at the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s office and retired in 1999. In her earlier years, she was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha and the Junior Woman’s Club.

She married Walter (Corky) Melody, Sr., in 1951 and they were married 40 years until his passing in 1992. She is survived by her daughters, Michele Maddox (Rick) and Kristy Stewart (Jim); daughter-in-law, Debora Melody; grandchildren, Dawn Maddox, Kristen Maddox (Christine Scarborough), Laura Maddox (Angie Petrou), Jessica Melody (Aaron Thompson), Jillian Melody (James Lamont), Emily Worsham (Shane) and great grandchildren, Jacob Marshall, Ethan Goff, Paislee Maddox, Silis Petrou, Favian Petrou, Curtis Rugge, Desiree Melody, Kendall Melody, Ayden Melody, Gabriel Worsham, Madeline Worsham, Lucas Worsham, Brooklyn Worsham and Caroline Worsham; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was predeceased by her father, Robert Slone; her mother Edna Slone Eichenberg; her husband, Walter (Corky) Melody, Sr., her son, Walter (Corky) Melody, Jr.; her grandsons, Jason Melody and Joel Melody; and her brothers, Chester Slone, Lester Slone and Robert (Bobby) Slone.

A Memorial service will be held at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. Her remains will be interred at Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to Woodlawn Presbyterian Church; 2612 12th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704 or Suncoast Hospice Foundation.