Melinda Odom Cooley, 53, of Ellisville, Mississippi, passed away surrounded by her devoted husband and loving family, Saturday January 8, 2022, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel, Mississippi. She was born Monday, April 8, 1968, in Laurel, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from 12:30 PM until 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Laurel in Laurel, Mississippi. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Laurel with burial to follow in Ellisville City Cemetery. Dr. Randy Turner, her uncles, Rev. Booth Poole, and Rev. Bill Poole will officiate.

Ellisville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (601) 477-3797.

Melinda had a specialist degree in education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She was a life time member of First Baptist Church of Laurel where she was a member of the church choir and a Sunday school teacher until diagnosed with cancer in 2005. Until her declining health forced her to retire early, her passion was serving as an elementary school librarian. Her greatest joy in life was watching "My Fred" play baseball in the early years of their relationship and taking care of him!

She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Emily Poole Odom; father and mother in-law, Sim and Pat Cooley; brother in-law, Stanley Joe Matthews.

Survivors include her husband of 31 years, Fred Cooley; half-brother, Dr. Homer Clyde Odom Jr. (Marty); brother in-laws, and sister in-laws, David Cooley (Frances), Donna Cooley Lawson, Brenda Cooley Matthews, Karen Cooley Rounsaville (Kent), and Simmy Cooley (Sherri); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Benji Cooley, Brett Cooley, Grant Matthews, and cousins, Mike Eddy, Stennis Poole, Shannon Poole.

Honorary pallbearers will be nephew, Austin Cooley, and cousins, Scott Poole, Chris Poole.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Laurel's Library Ministry, or First Baptist Church of Laurel's Operation Christmas Child.

Online guestbook may be signed at www.ellisvillefuneralhome.com