Obituary – Melvia Jean Cumbie Heartsill

Published 9:52 am Monday, January 27, 2025

Melvia Jean Cumbie Heartsill, age 81, passed away on Jan. 24. A Memorial Service was held on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. at Damascus Baptist Church in Greenville with Rev. Matthew Langford, Jr. and Brother Craig Burkhalter officiating and Dunklin Funeral Home announcing. The family received friends for visitation beginning at 1 p.m. until service time. 

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Willie J. Heartsill; her parents, Lucille Thomas and Eric Cumbie; brother, LaDon Cumbie; sister, Gail Flowers; brother-in-law, Allen Dunn; nephew, Eric Cumbie and niece and nephew, Kay and Stan Brock. 

She is survived by her son, Matt Langford, Sr. (Ashley); stepson, Travis Heartsill (Janet); stepdaughter, Valerie Heartsill McLain; grandchildren, Anne Blake Langford, Matt Langford, Jr. (Anne Claire) and Harper Lea Heartsill Simmons (Cameron); great granddaughter, Emberlea Simmons; sister, Frances Dunn; sister-in-law, Judy Cumbie; brother-in-law Donnie Flowers; nieces and nephews, Pam Dunn Allman (Robert), Kevin Cumbie (Kelly), Cameron Cumbie Ellison (Jamie), Debbie Flowers Payne and Drew Flowers (Traci) and several great nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Jean was a lifelong resident of Butler County born on Aug. 17, 1943, and a 1961 graduate of Greenville High School. During her career as a bookkeeper, she was employed by Lumpkin Mining Co., Boan Contracting Co. and Sterling Oil Co. She was committed to her faith in God and was a member of First Baptist Church of Greenville for many years where she taught Sunday School. She moved her church membership to First United Methodist Church where all three of her grandchildren were active members, and in later years to Damascus Baptist Church which was close to her home.  Wherever her church home was, she loved and served our Lord. 

Jean was a grandparent that never missed an event in which one of her three grandchildren was participating. She was so proud of all of them and loved to tell anyone about what they were up to. She never met a stranger and could talk to anyone about anything.  

She always loved having a house full of family and friends whether it was at the river house she and Billy Joe had on the Alabama River or at their home “in the woods” where she could watch the deer and other animals.  She especially loved deer season when the “boys” were there hunting. 

Jean was a person that always put others ahead of herself whether family, friends, or strangers.  She will be missed by all who knew her.

For online condolences, please visit www.dunklinfh.com.