Melba Lee Brogdon

Melba Lee Brogdon, 86, of Jacksonville, died Tuesday, September 30, at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born April 7, 1939, in Winchester, the daughter of Russell Thomas and Mary Mabel Summers Sellars. She married Richard Allen Brogdon on November 27, 1959, in Winchester, and he preceded her in death on April 16, 2023.
Mrs. Brogdon is also survived by two children, Connie (Paul) Lewis and Rod (Kim) Brogdon, both of Jacksonville; three grandchildren, Mindi (Chris) Johnson of Jacksonville, Stephanie (Luke) Adams of Jacksonville, and Brittani (Jon) Wardell of League City, Texas; seven great-grandchildren, Kennadi, Kamdyn, and Kai Johnson; Jacob and Julia Adams, and Harper and Graham Wardell, and one sister, Mary (Tom) Steelman of Winchester. She was preceded in death by one sister, Sylvia Saffer.
Melba grew up in Winchester, graduated from Winchester High School in 1957, and earned her Registered Nurse degree from Passavant Area Hospital School of Nursing in 1960. She worked for the Bone-Scott Clinic for fifteen years before joining her husband Richard as co-owner of Brogdon Motors in Jacksonville from 1971-1986. Their love of street rods took them to California where they both worked for legendary street rod builder, Boyd Coddington, who affectionately referred to Melba as "dragon lady." Richard and Melba returned to Jacksonville in 2000 where Melba worked as a school nurse and later as Director of Nursing, Administrator, and RN Consultant at Knollwood.
In addition to her love of street rods, Melba was an avid collector of Fenton Art Glass. She was a member of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church and Passavant Nursing alumni. Melba was a devoted caregiver, both as a nurse to her patients and as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Williamson Funeral Home. The family will meet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Private interment will take place at Winchester City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.