Everyone here today has a special place in  Melvin's life and heart. He was a  man who understood the journey of life.  "Swell Mel himself. Humble E Melvin Lloyd. Pop Pop. Golly. Dog bite it. Got no money. Never had less and felt better. Tell some and keep some. Whatch-u-say." Friends and family sent only kind words about who and what Melvin meant to them, and what he contributed to their lives. Thank you all for sharing your Melvin quotes.  Earl Lloyd was born on April 17, 1927, to Elon and Ethel Lloyd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went by his mother's maiden name Melvin. He was the second youngest of nine children and the last surviving sibling.  Melvin attended Philadelphia schools for grades 1-12. After graduating from Bartram High School he moved to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University, graduating with his class of 1948. While at Howard his best friend Mustapha Khan happened to be dating Jackie Driver from Philadelphia who introduced Melvin to her cousin Alice Lorrain Whitehead. Alice was the girl of his dreams and became his wife on September 7, 1952.  They moved to Nashville, Tennessee for Melvin to attend Meharry Medical College. Melvin passed out several times during his freshman year. The culprits were the dissection of a human cadaver in anatomy and experimenting  on a stray dog from the community for physiology. Due to those unforeseeable circumstances, he would give up the dream to become a doctor but not his dream girl. Melvin and Alice left Meharry and returned to Philadelphia to build a life. He joined Alice's church home at Mt Zion Baptist Church in Germantown. Melvin had various jobs/positions and businesses mainly dealing with real estate, building, and insurance.   Eventually, Melvin and Alice had two daughters Monique and Beth Anne who were the center of their world. Melvin lived the words he heard from his father and used them as a guide and template for future generations, "A measure  of a man is how well he provides for his family."  He attended his daughter's father-daughter banquets as well as other school and church events. Melvin encouraged Monique and Beth to reach their potential. Always supporting education and opportunities even if they took them far from home. He gave the same encouragement and love to his grandsons attending every graduation and grandparent's day from pre-K through college.  Melvin started a tradition of road trips and travel which continued as his family expanded with son-in-laws, grandchildren, and family pets.  His grandson Philip said vacations were fun but Pop Pop made them interesting. And Philip and Pop Pop were usually roommates on the family trips. Melvin hosted Thanksgiving dinners every year in Philadelphia and traveled to spend Christmas with his grandchildren.   Everyone has their Melvin memories and stories since there was always room in the station wagon for cousins and friends to join his adventures. Summer trips to the beach and drive-in movies.  Late-night drives on the winding road to his secret ice cream shop where eyes would widen in amazement over the giant scoops of ice cream that he would say were bigger than everyone's  heads! Family packed in to attend graduations in Ithaca and Boston. Melvin was the designated driver for trips down-the-shore- to the Atlantic City Casinos with Alice, her siblings, and Aunt Lucy. Melvin followed a bunch of young guys with big afros getting out of a limo at the Philadelphia Marriott on City Line Avenue to their hotel room.  He then hurried home to gather his daughters and cousins returning to the hotel to talk our way into autographs and photos with Michael Jackson and his brothers! What a night.  Melvin developed dementia and could no longer live alone. Doug and Jane Henderson welcomed Melvin into their home. Initially he spent his days with Jane and their caregiver and eventually moved in full time. Thank you Doug and Jane. Years went by and in 2018 the family was called to say their goodbyes to Melvin. Monique said he should be closer to family so his daughters set out to find a place near one of them. Florida ended up being the place. That's where the next adventure began. What was thought would be days turned into 4 years. More birthdays, holidays, and college family weekends for his grandsons. More road trips and even rooftop pool parties. Melvin didn't miss a thing! He was the core of his family and was now the center of attention he had made them. And what a time we had! As his health declined and with COVID concerns his three grandsons Ryan, Tanner and Tyler became his caregivers taking care of his everyday needs.  Melvin sucked life dry and lived to its fullest.  He always told us he would live forever. He believed science would make that possible in his lifetime. Melvin lived many lives and wore many hats. He was unique, quirky, and a spiffy dresser. He had a thirst for knowledge and the gift of gab to share that wealth of information with anyone who would listen. He truly learned something new every day of his life. Melvin never met anyone he didn't have well wishes for. He was proud of everyone and would encourage and help even strangers fulfill their dreams.  Swell Mel is survived by his daughters Monique and Beth Anne (Larren). Grandsons Ryan, Tanner, Tyler and Philip (Moriah). A host of nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his parents Elon and Ethel Lloyd; beloved sisters Maryann, Althea,  Gertrude and an infant sister who died at birth; brothers Charles, John, Leverne, and Miles; Nephews Richard, Peter, and Charles Jr ; Nieces Teena, Joan, Patricia and Charlotte.