Lavan Melvin III

Lavan Melvin III was born in Fayetteville North Carolina on July 28, 1965 to the late Goldie & Levan Melvin (Nick). On Tuesday December 14, 2021. God touched his hands and called him home to rest after a long battle with Covid.

Van, as everyone called him, attended Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, Maryland.

Van grew up in a large household along with seven siblings and there was never a dull moment in their close net neighborhood. Van was employed at a young age and known as a jack of all trades; he was well known in the community for hard work and generosity and would help anyone in need. Van was employed as a longshoreman at Port of Baltimore for 17 years. He loved working at the port and had many duties, However, he loved working in the “sugar house” and loved taking what he called “sugar rides”. In addition to being employed at the port, after the passing of his father, Van went on to be the owner of Melvin’s & Sons Concrete and Hauling along with his nephew Troy Lambert. Van was a hard worker who believed in making sure any job he did was done to perfection and held his employees to the same standard, and if his standard was not meant, he had no problem with letting you know with a voice you’ll never forget. Van loved to crack jokes, cook for his family, help people in the community, and spend his free time at the “club house” where they called him the mayor and councilman of the block and the reason his wife would jokingly say to him “Ok Mister President”.

Van was a dedicated family man and a diehard Ravens fan who loved to cook, play lottery and spend quality time with his family and friends. Van was loved by many and will be truly missed.

Preceding him in death is his parents, Levan and Goldie Melvin; sister, Lora Melvin; brothers, Jerry and Randolph Melvin and nephew Brian Green.

He leaves to cherish his memory wife: Shelia Lance-Melvin; daughters, Latoya Melvin and Sheda Billinger; daughter in-law, Renee Boyer-Melvin; son-in law, Stephon Ray; mother in-law, Rosa Lance-Evans; stepsons, Dominic and Donte; brother, Bobby Melvin; sisters, Ila Melvin, Rochelle Melvin - Lambert and Oglatha Melvin-Smith; sister in-law, Yolanda Dugger; brother in-law, Troy Lambert and Pablo Smith; four grandkids, Ava, Skylar, Dominic Jr and Dillion; 5 aunts, 5 uncles, 7 nieces and 6 nephews; special friends, James Jackson, Phil, Yank, Gilda, and host of great nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

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