A flower is a beautiful plant. When you plant the seed, you care for it, you nurture it. Flowers come in many colors, sizes and various forms. As the flower grows, it blossoms, it stands tall and erect. It is ready to be picked from the garden, to be put in a vase and displayed.

We as human creatures are like flowers, we come in different colors, sizes and shapes. When we care for our bodies, we stand tall and we blossom. We shine. It makes us smile. It makes us happy and we feel good about ourselves. We are loved.

On August 4, 2016, our Lord Almighty felt that it was time to pick another flower in his kingdom. That flower was Melvin Eugene Kirkwood.

Melvin was born April 8, 1956, to the proud parents of Mack and Mae Belle Kirkwood. Melvin was the third son of five boys. During his years of education, he attended 111th Street Elementary School, Markham Jr. High School and graduating from Jordan High School in Los Angeles, CA. During his time in High School, Melvin had taken woodshop. In class, he made beautiful end tables and a china cabinet for his mother.

After graduating High School, Melvin sought employment as a custodian at a convalescent and sanitarium hospital. He worked there for years and that is where he met May Pearl Randolph. They moved to Long Beach from Los Angeles and had three children together. A son, Melvin and later, twin daughters, Pearl and Bell. Big Melvin as he was known by in Long Beach helped raise his children along with May Pearl\'s four children LaMar (deceased) LaRon (deceased), Cora and Alberta May Randolph. Melvin enjoyed his kids and his new extended family. During this time Melvin found work with Parks and Recreation, and the Boys and Girls Clubs as a custodian, and later at K-Mart in their warehouse in Carson, CA. May Pearl and Melvin were together eighteen and a half years with wonderful memories. Eventually, their relationship ended, but not their friendship. Later he met Iris Waltons (deceased) and they had two beautiful daughters together. They were Cheyenne and Jasmine. He continued to care for his kids.

Melvin finally met the love of his life, Ms. Beverly Strange. They fell in love and married February 13, 1994. Twenty-two wonderful years until his untimely death, Melvin and Beverly had no children together, but Beverly had four kids of her own, Innetta Strange, Enisha Wells, Monica Wells and Willie George, plus her nineteen grandchildren. Melvin loved all of them and his extended family continued to grow.

During that time with his new bride and family he began attending church, getting involved and found the Lord. He started attending Liberty Tabernacle Church in Gardena, CA under the leadership of Pastor Cross, Melvin gave his life to the Lord and had was baptized. Melvin was a devoted husband, a loving son, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

Melvin is preceded in death by both his parents, Mack and Mae Belle Kirkwood, two brothers: James and Mack Jr. Kirkwood and a grandson LaMar Vincent.

He leaves to cherish his memories, his beloved wife Beverly, son Melvin (Tanisha), daughters: Pearl (DeAndre), Bell (Poncho), Cheyenne (Jermaine) and Jasmine; brothers, Eddie (Bernadette), Tim (Janice), and best friend Jeffery Mozeke. Melvin also leaves behind thirteen grandchildren: Mark, Melvin, Jonathon, Christopher, Brandon, Brenden, Britinee, Delvin, De\'Jasia, D\'Majia, Lai\'yah, Tremayne, Kamryn; plus a new grandchild on the way. He leaves one great-grandson, Da\'Marion, and host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Melvin Eugene Kirkwood will be greatly missed but never forgotten.