Idella Marie Melton

Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Wife, Friend and Mentor, “Miss. Idella” touched many and in myriad, profound ways. The daughter of Amelia Jackson of Canton, Mississippi a talented church pianist and vocalist and Sullivan Thompson, a Native American tribal and clergy member, she demonstrated a remarkable love of learning with an innate sense of critical thinking from an early age. An avid reader, she enjoyed, utilized and shared the benefits of being well informed and took pleasure in pursuing her favorite hobbies; gardening, politics and community organizing. After graduating High School in Oakland, CA where she also won a beauty contest, she married John Melton, Jr. a talented musician who led his own group and also backed James Brown, who she met while attending McClymonds. To this union three children were born: Michael Ricardo Melton, Sultanah Muhammad (Robin Lynne Melton) and Kapri Tiffany Ellison (Melton). After integrating a Nursing Program she worked part time and continued working at making conditions better for economically marginalized persons in Berkeley where she lived for over sixty-five years. In Berkeley she jogged, wrote urban themed poetry, worked at the election polls, volunteered at Oakland Unified School District and enjoyed listening to SF KGO News talk radio. With Roy S. Wilson of Berkeley, CA, her two youngest children, Gabrielle Lenore Wilson and Cassius Scott Wilson were born. Wilson integrated Louisiana State University School of Law in 1950 and together in Berkeley they trained youth for employment as well as attended many City Council meetings while advocating for economic, educational and housing equality for black homeowners as well as black renters. When she learned black women were not permitted to give birth at the only maternity ward in Berkeley, she opted for a home birth for Gabrielle. Ever encouraging, she enjoyed learning personal and career details about the lives of her children: Sultanah Muhammad, founding member of Muhammad’s Temple No. 26 B in Oakland, CA, Tiffany Ellison, Los Angeles Real Estate Broker. She kept Naomi and Naima so Gabrielle could obtain her law degree. Her wit and wisdom could sometimes cut like a knife or bring endless laughter at the same time. When granddaughter Brandi Nicole (Gripsta) signed a music deal to Rap with her music mentor, Ice-T, she asked “Who is Ice-T? Is that Ice Cube? Well, I’m going to put an Ice Cube in my Iced Tea.” If she liked you, you knew it because her loyalty spanned the ups and downs of life. She is preceded in death by her firstborn, Michael Ricardo Melton, B. A., US Air Force, honorable discharge, Grandsons Jamal (United Black Artists) and Rahim (‘Lil Heem) Muhammad and is survived by her younger brother William Jackson (Geraldine) of Detroit, MI and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and relations.

Tributes

Idella Marie Melton

June 17, 1935 - November 8, 2024