Melba Lucille Gadson was born on October 10, 1943 to the union of Arlethia A. Gadson (Hopson) and Thomas H. Gadson in Kansas City, Missouri.Melba received her formal education in the Kansas City Missouri School System; graduating from East High School in 1961 and receiving an Associates Degree from The Kansas City Metropolitan Community College.Melba Gadson was united in marriage to Herbert Scaife on July 12, 1963 in Waukegan, Illinois. Their union was blessed with 2 daughters. Melba accepted Christ as her Savior and attended regularly, but was not an official member of Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was employed by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for 39 years. There she developed wonderful, lifelong friendships. Many of those same friends were present to help her celebrate her retirement on March 21, 2008. In her leisure, she enjoyed traveling, reading, dancing, cooking, laughing, watching reality television, going to music concerts & plays, trips to the spa, and as she would always say "chilling out" with her friends, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and her hometown Kansas City, Missouri. While pursuing her associates degree, Melba received a national writing competition award. She was a member of the Las Estrellitas (a women's social organization), and she participated in league bowling for many years. She enjoyed volunteering and found it especially rewarding to work with the young women at A Better Way organization. Melba was called to eternal life on February 28, 2012. She was preceded in death by her mother Arlethia A. Gadson, father Thomas H. Gadson and an older brother Thomas H. Gadson II. She leaves to cherish her memory: daughters: Alessa Harris and Charlotte Griffin (Andrew), granddaughters: Savannah Hickenbottom, Jasmine Griffin, Drew Griffin, and SaMya Griffin, older brothers: James Gadson (Barbara) and Thomas M. Gadson, younger sisters: Robbie Herndon (Frank), Thelma Gadson, and Dawn Rush (Jeffrey). Melba is also is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her dearest friend being, Sharon "Sissy" Saffold.
