Melba Benton Douglass (known also by her grandmother name, "Mopsy"), 91, passed away peacefully at her home in Clinton, MS, with loving family members by her side. She was born in Puckett, MS, the second oldest of five children to Rev. Robert Hollis Benton and Myrtis Benton.

After graduating from Prentiss High School, Melba attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College where she was a CLCC College Colette dancer, and where she met the love of her life, Jimmy Douglass. After transferring to Louisiana College where she supported his completion of a bachelor's degree, they moved to New Orleans where they both attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary and Melba completed her college education with a degree in K-6 education.  Life took them next to living in the Mississippi Delta, a second time in New Orleans, south Mississippi, all while starting their family. Melba then moved with her husband and children to Jackson, MS, for several years as Jimmy began his teaching career. In 1974, they relocated to Clinton, MS where she lived in the same home for fifty years. For the remainder of her working career, she was involved in various types of childcare and/or child education positions – activities completely representative of her great love for and ability to work with children. A few of the places she worked either as a kindergarten teacher, kindergarten director, or employee would include Parkway Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Clinton, the Clinton YMCA, TLC Childcare (a self-owned business of hers), as well as providing private childcare at her home for a number of years. In addition to her childcare work, she also owned a tanning salon business for several years in Clinton, MS.

Beginning in her childhood, Melba was known as someone possessing a bright, energetic, outgoing, and loving personality with a preference for brightly colored clothing, large earrings, and as much holiday decorating as she could fit into one house. She also loved a party and was always happy to be the host, especially because it meant she could spend some more time with friends and family. As a mother, she was tirelessly devoted to supporting her children in all their endeavors, whether those activities were academic, sports related, music related, artistic, club activities, or parades. She loved her family and other loved ones deeply and they have been blessed deeply as a result.

Melba was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, being pre-deceased by her husband, Jimmy,  in 2023 after 69 years of marriage, and survived by two younger brothers, Bob Benton of Puckett, MS,  and George Benton of Pearl, MS, her four children and their spouses, Jim and Mittie Douglass of Greensboro, NC, Steve and Janie Douglass of Clinton, MS, Lyn and Julia Douglass Kelly of Brandon, MS, and Ginny Douglass Baynes of Pensacola Beach, FL. She also enjoyed the love and attention of ten grandchildren, six grandchildren in-laws, and seven great grandchildren.

There will be a visitation at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton, MS, from 5:00-7:00pm on Friday, November 1.  The  funeral service is scheduled at 11:00am at First Baptist Church, Clinton, MS, on Saturday, November 2, with an additional visitation time from 10:00-11:00am prior to the service.

Also, in the spirit of Mopsy's love for having a happy time, the family request that service attendees wear bright colors.