Velda Raye Sturdivant

Velda Raye Sturdivant, age 62, former resident of Salem, Alabama and current resident of Largo, Florida, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020 in Fairmont, North Carolina.  Private funeral services are scheduled at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 3738 US Hwy 431N, Phenix City, Alabama with Reverend Bud Passmore officiating.   Interment will follow at Lakeview Memory Gardens.

Mrs. Sturdivant, daughter of the late Raymond Herbert Fanning and Jimmie Carol Ivey, was born September 21, 1957 in Baltimore, Maryland.  She was a homemaker and member of Concord Baptist Church, Salem, Alabama.  Mrs. Sturdivant loved the outdoors, particularly farm animals and pets.  She also enjoyed horseback riding.  Mrs. Sturdivant always looked forward to being with her grandchildren and loved cooking for her family at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  She was known to be a great hostess for guests in her home. Always having a heart of giving to others, most notably shown by her being a caregiver for her mother-in-law for over 17 years.  The family remembers her as a woman who always poured out love to her family and friends.

Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a two sisters, Susan Rowland and Dottie Hammer and a brother, Richard Allen Rowland.  She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Jeff Sturdivant former resident of Salem, Alabama and current resident of Largo, Florida; three daughters, Crystal Rose Melvin of Smith Station, Alabama, April Nicole LeComte of Salem, Alabama, and Brandi Elaine Melvin of Salem, Alabama; son, George Leslie Melvin of Smith Station, Alabama;  sister, Carol Fanning of South Portland, Maine; brother, Steven Rowland and his wife Cindy of Smith Station, Alabama; nine grandchildren, Noah, Natali, Peyton, Abigale, Shelby, Trey, McKenzie, Jeff, and Matt; many other relatives and friends.