Melba "Bernice" Bledsaw, (nee:Loveall), 73, of Troy, Illinois, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 7:05 P.M. at University Nursing and Rehab Center in Edwardsville, IL.

Mrs. Bledsaw lived in the states of Illinois, California, and Florida, moving with her husband while he was pastoring in Churches in those states. She also helped her husband in their concrete business which they operated for 30 years. After her husbands retirement, they traveled for many years. Mrs. Bledsaw was a member of Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Mrs. Bledsaw was preceded in death by her parents, John E. and Goldie Beatrice (nee: Brady) Loveall, her husband Rev. Lonnie Lee Bledsaw whom she married on November 5, 1949 in Quartsite, Arizona and he passed away on November 21, 2004, her brothers, Wesley, Ernest, and Glenn Loveall, and her sisters, Iva Garner, Leona Knight and Opal Irene Loveall passed away in infancy.

Mrs. Bledsaw is survived by her 5 daughters, Mrs. Sharon (Donnie) Wood of Troy, Illinois, Mrs. Pamela (Douglas) Bowers of Troy, Illinois, Mrs. Janice (Larry) Burns of Troy, Illinois, Mrs. Londa (David) Palmer of Pierron, Illinois, and Mrs. Edwina (Ron) Bullard of Troy, Illinois, her sister, Mrs. Louise Bonkoski of Caseyville, Illinois, her brother, J.E. Loveall of Mesa, Arizona, eleven grandchildren and their families, Kevin (Krysta) Wood and children, Steven, Cayla and Gabriel of Bakersfield, California, Stephanie (Dale) Myers and children, Kyle, Jacob and Zachary, Diane Ortiz, Debra Ortiz of Troy, Illinois, Deanne (Clay) Burns and children, Jacob, Sarah, and Kayla Burns of Alhambra, Illinois, Trishelle (Bryan) Cornell and their children, Jacob, Amanda and Austin of Troy, Illinois, Douglas (Lynda) Bowers of Edwardsville, Illinois, Arik Burns of Troy, Illinois, David (Michelle) Palmer II and son Bryce of Highland, Illinois, Jeremy Palmer of Pierron, Illinois, Brandon Palmer of Pierron, Illinois, Heather Bullard of Alton, Illinois, and Nick Bullard of Troy, Illinois, and 17 great-grandchildren.

VISITATION HOURS: Friends may call at the Laughlin Funeral Home from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Friday, June 29, 2007.

FUNERAL SERVICE: will be at 10 A.M. on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at the Laughlin Funeral Home "Chapel", with Reverend Kent Wilson of the Crossview Independent Assembly of God Church, O'Fallon, Illinois officiating. Interment will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, BlackJack, Illinois.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.laughlinfh.com.