On March 14, 1945, sounds of celebration greeted the birth of Lavada Joyce Norris Bankston, when she was born in Wharton, Texas. She was brought up in the loving arms of Dorothy Lee Norris Bankston and Jimmie Jay “Daddy Jimmy” Bankton, in San Antonio, Texas.

While attending secondary schools in San Antonio, she later attended Phillis Wheatley High School where she was Head Cheerleader, Part of the National Honor Society and member of numerous high school clubs and activities. It’s the same school, fellow classmate, Forrest Eugene Melton also attended, in the same grade level.

It wasn’t until after High School that Lavada met up again with former classmate Forrest Melton, who had received numerous honors after enlisting in the United States Army and serving in Vietnam. And that’s when the love between Lavada and Forrest Grew Bright!

On November 20, 1968, Lavada and Forrest were joined in Holy Matrimony.

Now known as Lavada Joyce Melton, she proudly joined, San Antonio’s City Public Service, also referred to as C.P.S. She would spend 29 years at the City’s Utility Company as a Data Entry Analysis/ Key Punch Employee. She made numerous friends, some of which she remained in contact with for years, after retiring in July of 2000.

But, her true passion was her family. Bringing up her Daughter Sharron with Forrest was the joy of her life. And she always said it made her extremely happy.

She was also known as a stand in Mom for many young people she worked with or encountered along her life journey. She often would joke how she “Gave birth to one incredible child, but I had a lot of other children I helped to rear along the way too.” And she did an amazing job at it all.

Lavada is preceded in death by the love of her life Forrest Eugene Melton.

Lavada is survived by her loving daughter Sharron Melton. She is remembered by her siblings, Clarzell Bankston Simms, Jimmy Jay “Buddy” Bankston, Jr. and his wife Nancy, Bruce Zachary Bankston, Timothy Russell Bankston (deceased). Along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, CPS Friends and Retirees, and Phillis Wheatley High Alumni. Extended relatives of the heart also include Martha, Jared and Veronica Garcia, the entire Juan & Rose Marie Ramirez Family, along with friends Mary Ella Paulk Henderson and Jo Woodson.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,

I have kept the faith”

II Timothy 4:7

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