Melvin Bledsoe

Melvin Bledsoe, 72, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Thursday August 21, 2025 leaving behind a legacy of resilience, compassion, and service to both his community and the nation.

Melvin was best known as the founder of Parents for Peace (P4P), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by extremism. His journey into this work began from a place of profound personal tragedy. In 2010, his son Carlos was recruited and radicalized, culminating in an attack on a U.S. military recruiting center in Little Rock, Arkansas. The devastating incident took the life of a soldier and led to Carlos receiving a life sentence. Rather than allow grief to define him, Melvin chose to transform his pain into purpose. Through Parents for Peace, he gave countless families guidance, support, and hope, ensuring no parent would suffer in silence as he once did. Hundreds of families have been helped based on his vision.

Closer to home, Melvin was a proud Memphian and a familiar face to many as the longtime general manager and operator of Blues City Tours, which has been in operation since 1988. Through the company's sightseeing tours, Melvin helped introduce thousands of visitors to the rich cultural fabric of Memphis; from Graceland and Beale Street to the National Civil Rights Museum and other historic landmarks. His work with Blues City Tours showcased not only the city's history, but also his deep pride in his community.

Melvin will be remembered for his strength, his compassion, and his unwavering belief that love must be stronger than hate. His impact will continue through the families helped by Parents for Peace, and through the memories of all those who came to know Memphis through Blues City Tours.