Melvin Frederick West, Jr., a member of Hope Chapel AME Zion Church was a long time resident of Mobile, AL. He was called home on April 12, 2011, after 23 years of dialysis treatment. He was the son of Anniece Washington White and Melvin West, Sr., and was born on August 14, 1941. He was the grandson of Mrs. Ethel Washington. Mr. West was a graduate of Central High School, where his sports interests were football and track. His college studies included Bishop State Community College and The University of South Alabama. During his stint in the United States Air Force, he held second place from the world record in US Track and was an avid boxer. His employment history included Supervisor for Mobile City Parks and Recreation Department and Recreation Director for the J.T. Strickland Youth Center where his philosophy was to nurture and develop the physical and mental energies of the youth. His pride and joy was as founder of the Mobile Youth Community Ensemble. His social commitments included President of Vestavia Community Action Group and a long standing member of the "Krewe of Don Q". Mr. West was a descendant of Cudjo Kazoola Lewis of the Clotilde Slave Ship. He is survived by two devoted sons, Eric (Eldridge) West of Mobile, AL and Tyrone Gulley of Pensacola, FL; daughter, Lucretia Jones of Pensacola, FL; devoted granddaughter, Shamyra West of Mobile, AL; devoted sister, Marianne Felton of Mobile, AL; devoted brother, Lucious (Elizabeth) White; loving and devoted wife, Gloria Jones of Prichard, AL; 16 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; 5 nieces; 5 nephews; 17 great nieces; 11 great nephews; 2 great-great nieces; devoted friends, Howard Gaskins, Johnny Robinson, Ray York, Kenneth Bryant, James Jones. His remains will lie in state on Friday, April 15, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Small's Mortuary, Mobile, AL. Visitation will be held Saturday, April 16, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. funeral hour at Hope Chapel AME Zion Church, 1644 Wolf Ridge Road, Mobile, AL, Rev. Sanders Mason, Pastor and Officiating Minister. The interment will be in Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2011. DIGNIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO SMALL'S MORTUARY, 950 S BROAD ST., MOBILE, AL 36603.

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