Millicent "Millie" Melaver
Savannah
Millicent "Millie" Melaver, 90, of Savannah, Georgia, died Monday morning, November 30, 2020, at her home.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1930 and moved with her family to Savannah in 1940. After graduating from Savannah High School, she attended Armstrong State College for one year and then attended and graduated from The University of Pennsylvania. After college she taught English at Savannah High School as well as in the Miami area, but spent most of her life working in the family grocery store business, M&M Food Store, later known as M&M Supermarkets, where she directed front-end management of the store and later ran the advertising department and helped grow the business into a regional chain of 14 grocery stores, employing over 750 people.
Beyond being an accomplished businesswoman, she was deeply involved in community affairs and was active in and served on the boards of many cultural and civic organizations, including the Savannah Cultural Affairs Committee, Jewish Educational Loan Fund, Savannah Jewish Council, Congregation Agudath Achim, The United Way, and the Melaver Family Scholarship at Armstrong Atlantic State University. She served as President of the Savannah Jewish Federation, Chair of the Foundation on the Board of St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries, and Vice President of Development and Vice President of Marketing for the Savannah Symphony Orchestra. As a dear friend put it, "if there was a need in Savannah, Millie was there to serve it; her accomplishments and the causes she championed will serve Savannah for generations to come."
Millie was an avid traveler, starting with a tour of Western Europe in the early 1950's. Her travels took her all over the country and the world.
A devoted daughter, sister, niece, friend, aunt, great-aunt, and honorary mother/aunt to many, she is survived by Martin Melaver and his children Dana and Alon, Tovah Melaver and Edison Wolf and their daughter Aliyah, Elle Melaver and her son Ian, and Nirit Avnimelech. A private graveside funeral service was held on December 2nd at Bonaventure Cemetery and was simultaneously streamed online. A recording of the funeral can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF34fd84v88&feature=youtu.be
Remembrances: Donations in her memory would be welcome at any of the organizations with which she was involved.
Please share your thoughts about Millie and her life at www.gamblefuneralservice.com.
Savannah Morning News
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1 Entry
My most sincere condolences to the family of Millie Melaver.
This was a great lady whom I saw as a friend who also shared in the love and beauty of Savannah.
Ken Herrington
Friend
December 2, 2020
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