MELANIE BEARDEN FREEMAN

Melanie Anne Freeman, loving mother, daughter, wife, sister, grandmother, and friend, age 49 of Ponce de Leon, Florida went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in Pensacola, Florida. She was born on July 24, 1972 in Geneva, Alabama to Billy Wayne Bearden and Patricia Gail Ward Bearden. Melanie spent her life in Ponce de Leon where she was a faithful member of Pineview Holiness Church. She earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration and taught school at Ponce de Leon High School for twenty-eight years. Melanie enjoyed family vacations to the Smoky Mountains and other destinations. Her favorite place on earth was Cades Cove. She also liked coke icee’s. Melanie loved the Lord and her family fiercely. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Paul and Velma Ward; paternalgrandparents, Willie Bearden, Harry and Virginia Rice; sister-in-law, Connie Freeman-Clere; father-in-law, Earl Freeman.

Melanie is survived by her parents, Billy Wayne Bearden and Patricia Gail Ward Bearden; loving husband of thirty years, Brian Freeman; four chilidren, Brianna Blair (Nathan), Ashlee Willcox, Cortney Anders (Noah), and Matthew Freeman; one brother, Nick Bearden (Candace); four grandchildren, Connor Doolittle, Sawyer Willcox, Kamryn Willcox, and Mallory Blair; mother-in-law, Margaret Murphy and one nephew, Phillip Bearden. She is also survived by a host of extended family, friends and her special K-9 companion, “Ollie”.

Among those asked to serve as casketbearers are Jason Johnston, CJ Lee, Easton Lee, Allen Lee, Bryce Lee, and Milton Rushing.   The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. in Jerry Evans Chapel.  Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M.  Friday, April 1, 2022 in Jerry Evans Chapel in DeFuniak Springs with Comforter Funeral Home of Port St. Joe, Florida directing and Pastor Tim Morrison officiating.   Burial will follow in New Ponce  Cemetery.  Friends and family may go on line to view obituaries, offer condolences  and sign the guest book at jerryevansfuneralhome.com.  In addition condolences may be submitted at www.comforterfuneralhome.com. also.  Arrangements are entrusted to the caring staff of Comforter Funeral Home in Port St. Joe, FL.