Chloa Melba Bearden

Memorial Service for Chloa Melba Bearden, 97, will be held at 11 am on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Plains First Baptist Church with Rev. Patrick Hamilton officiating.

Melba was born in Oklahoma on January 10, 1927, to Clem and Ola Mobley, and two months later the family traveled to Texas in a covered wagon, eventually settling near Tokio. Melba attended school in Turner and Plains, and graduated from Plains High School. She was baptized in a pond in Tokio, and was a member of Tokio Baptist Church and later Plains First Baptist Church. 

Melba began dating Thomas James Bearden when he was home on furlough from the army and he bought her a pie at a dessert auction. She and Thomas were married in the church parsonage of Brownfield First Baptist Church in 1945.  Melba worked at the Post Office in Plains for 27 years, eventually serving as Postmaster for the last 10 years of her tenure. 

Melba was known for her selflessness and generosity, always putting her family first and sharing her talents in the kitchen with everyone she knew. After retiring and becoming a widow, she moved to Lubbock, where she found happiness in becoming her grandson Dusty's dedicated taxi driver.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clem and Ola; her husband, Thomas; a son, Thomas "Tommy" James Bearden, Jr.; 3 sisters, Louise Cobb, Doris Powell, and Joan Humphrey; and a brother, Jr. Mobley.

Melba is survived by a daughter, Lola Elam (Bob) of Plains; a son, Neal Bearden (Alice) of Plains; grandchildren, Amber Bryan (Kristi) of Lubbock, Dusty Bryan of Lubbock, Cleve Bearden (Tessa) of Plains, Shain Bearden (Elly) of Katy, Colby Bearden (Kim) of Plains, and Zoey Bearden of Lubbock; 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.