Mel Bounds

Celebration services honoring the life and legacy of Mel (Milburn Harrison) Bounds will be held Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home. Prior to the service, visitation will be 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM. Officiating the service will be Dr. Raymon Leake, former long-time pastor at First Baptist Church, and Dr. Will Wall of First Baptist Church. Burial will follow at West Kemper Baptist Church immediately after the service. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.
Mel passed away in his home at 97 years of age surrounded by his family on March 16, 2024.
Born June 10, 1926, to parents John Otis and Mallie Lee Brown Bounds into a humble, Christian home, Mel carried the loving lessons and work ethics learned during the Depression throughout his life. He was raised in Meridian and later moved to Obadiah, MS, which is where he became a self-taught builder. The house that his parents had just purchased burned to the ground the first night, leaving him, his sister, and parents to live in the hayloft of the barn while saving money and buying lumber a little at the time. Slowly over two years, he and his daddy built what would become the family farmhouse. Mel attended Center Hill School where he played second base for the high school baseball team. In the aftermath of World War II, Mel attempted to enlist in the Navy. He was promptly sent home because he was too young, but later returned with his parents who signed for him to defend and fight for his country. He saw action aboard the USS Stokes AKA68 in the Pacific Amphibious Forces and was honored to have witnessed the raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima on Mount Suribachi before continuing to Okinawa. After Japan surrendered, Mel was honorably discharged on May 30, 1946, and returned home to continue his education on the GI Bill attending Meridian Municipal Junior College where he earned an Associate's Degree.
Mel courted Johnnie Sue Chisolm on the porch swing of her mother's house in Bailey, MS, and were married January 31, 1948, by Brother W. B. Abel, long-time pastor of Poplar Springs Baptist Church. After their honeymoon in Florida (where they spent most of their time and money trying to keep their car running), Mel and Johnnie returned home to begin their life together with $5 to their name.
Mel's career began while he was still attending night school in college. He started out at Biddle Lumber Purchasing Company before soon recognizing the opportunities of owning his own business. He and Robert McRae formed a partnership in 1953 in the lumber business. In 1957 Mel, Bob McRae, and Jim McRae formed Bounds & McRae Building Company, Inc. to venture into residential and commercial construction with each partner bringing his own specific contributions, talents, and qualifications. In 1971 Mel, Bob, and Jim agreed to divide the company concluding their partnership with friendship and a handshake - Bob and his brother Jim forming Clearspan Components while Mel started Bounds Building Company, Inc. including family members as stockholders. Bounds Building Company concentrated on residential and commercial construction, general real estate brokerage, property management and subdivision development. Danny Harrington, who worked for Mel for decades as a draftsman was a trusted and valuable employee, as was Katherine Harris, long-time office manager. Mel's son, Don, worked with his dad learning the building business and eventually started his own construction business. Robby Null (Mel's grandson) worked in building construction, operated heavy equipment, and later helped Mel with property management. On construction sites Mel was very much a hands-on contractor insisting on "his way" at every step of the building process (beginning with ditch digging) and was happiest spending afternoons on his bulldozer. Mel Bounds was a charter member of both the Meridian Chamber of Commerce and the Meridian Industrial Foundation, Mississippi Real Estate Commission, member of the National Home Builder's Association, and was an independent real estate appraiser. Other organizations included the Rotary Club, the Thursday Roundtable business group at Weidman's, and the Easy Street Investment Club.
Mel Bounds was staunchly devoted to his principles and beliefs. As a Christian he continued to support First Baptist Church as a member for over 50 years, Mount Pleasant Methodist Church (Johnnie Sue's childhood church) and West Kemper Baptist Church (Mel's childhood church) throughout his life, providing funding for youth groups, building additions, church bells, and property donations.
Mel's super competitive drive was demonstrated on the golf course. He was known for his 11 holes-in-one and for using his Bull's Eye putter so he could putt both left and right-handed. His love of golf instilled in the Bounds family a golfing tradition. Another of the many things Mel's children and grandchildren are thankful for is his love of travel and adventure which has also been passed along to all. From Florida to the Smokey Mountains, from New York City to the deserts and mountains of the Southwest (There are rumors that his children were nearly trampled by a buffalo in Yellowstone while Mel and Johnnie watched safely from the road.), from Canada, Alaska and Hawaii to Hong Kong, it was Mel's intention for his family to see the world. He and Johnnie Sue took a trip up the East Coast, over to Seattle and down to San Francisco playing golf in every state. Johnnie Sue, Mel, and Dale also drove across southern Canada, up through the Yukon, and to Alaska. Mel decided rather impulsively to sell their car and fly Johnnie Sue, Dale, and himself to Hawaii for island hopping.
Mel (most famously known as "Big Daddy" to his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all their friends) and Johnnie Sue left a long family legacy starting with their children Don Bounds, Debbie Bounds, and Dale Bounds. His grandchildren are Robby Null (Stephanie), Kim Bounds Rogers (Clint), Melanie Null, John Bounds (Tracy), Clay Bounds (Jessica), Scott Bounds (Lindsay), Chad Bounds (Morgan), and Regan Bounds. Great-grandchildren include Tyler Thompson, Millery Null Ingallina (Ben), Abby Null, Erin Eubanks, Abbey Vanderslice, Kenzie Keller, Cohen Keller, Ethan Eubanks, Syd Eubanks, Piper Delk, Chisolm Bounds, Indy Bounds, Ryder Bounds, Greyson Bounds and Henry Bounds. Mel's great-great-grandchildren are Merrick Forrest Ingillina, Baylor McLaurin, Brooks McLaurin, and Maizy Ingallina, also niece Jennifer Freeman Jackson, devoted friends Mary McAboy, Sandra Winham, Nancy Myers, and numerous cousins.
Preceding Mel in death were his wife of 63 years, Johnnie Sue Chisolm Bounds, parents, John Otis and Mallie Brown Bounds, sister Sadie Bounds Freeman, daughter-in-law Theresa White Bounds, nephews William Bryan Freeman and Jennings Bryan "Buddy" Freeman, Jr., wife of 10 years Mary Harris Bounds, and his life-long best friends Louis Ray "Whitey" White and Guy Darnell.
Pallbearers will be Mel's grandsons and great-grandsons: Robby Null, John Bounds, Clay Bounds, Scott Bounds, Chad Bounds, Tyler Thompson, Cohen Keller, and Ethan Eubanks. Honorary pallbearers are Clyde White, Danny Harrington, Jimmy Creel, Ralph Morgan, Ronnie Massey Jimmy Alexander, Alan Lamar, and Walter Rogers.
For 97 years, Mel was a blessing to his family and friends endowing them with love, loyalty, generosity, faith, truth, and wisdom. Of utmost importance to Mel was for everyone to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. His last words were, "Was my harvest enough?" Yes, Daddy, it was indeed enough.