Obituary: Scarlette Melanie McCollum

Scarlette Melanie McCollum, age 75, of Oak Ridge, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at NHC Health Care Center.

She was born Dec. 12, 1938, in Pocahontas, Va., the daughter of Lawrence E. and Josephine Scales McCollum.

Ms. McCollum graduated from Morristown Community College. In the early 60s, she worked as a legal secretary in New York. She retired from Martin Marietta Energy Systems, where she was in records management at the K-25 plant. She was a member with Haven Chapel United Methodist Church and had also been active with New Vision New Covenant Ministry. As a basketball player in college, her love of the game continued, and she greatly enjoyed watching basketball games. She enjoyed writing poetry and was an accomplished seamstress, making most of her clothes.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother, Gene McCollum, and sister, Cecelia Evans.

She is survived by sister, Fern Boone of Orlando, Fla.; brothers, Leslie McCollum and wife Almedia and Shelby McCollum all of Greenville, N.C.; and special nieces, Dawn McCollum–Morris and husband Tony, Cheryl Taylor and husband Mossy, and Sydney McCollum and husband Tyler.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Haven Chapel United Methodist Church in Claxton at 3 p.m. with Rev. James Guthrie officiating. A reception followed at the church.

Weatherford Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.