Mrs. Marion "Polly" S. Melson, 75, of Pooler, Georgia and St. Simons Island, Georgia, died on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at Pruitt Health Seaside following an extended illness.

Polly was born in Abington, Pennsylvania to the late Harry F. Smith, Jr. and Marion Bisbee Smith.  She was also preceded in death by sister, Nancy Gould.  She graduated from The Brimmer and May School in Chestnut, Massachusetts and Salem College in Winston Salem, North Carolina.  While there she met William L. Melson of Wilmington, Delaware.  They married shortly thereafter on August 16, 1969.  Bill then was drafted in the Army where he graduated from OCS and was sent to Vietnam, becoming seriously wounded.  Eventually he earned his masters in education from the University of Delaware and interned with the Veterans Administration.  This led to a counseling psychologist position at the regional office in Houston, Texas for 25 years, getting his doctorate in education along the way.  Polly thoroughly enjoyed animals, tennis and gardening.  She showed hunters and jumpers in horse shows in the Houston area.  She played league and goof-off tennis for the best part of 40 years, and joined several garden clubs, the most recent being the Garden Club of Savannah.

Survivors include her beloved husband, William L. Melson; children, Philip Melson (Bonnie) of Palm Harbor, Florida and Laura Melson of Brookhaven, Georgia; sister, Deborah C. Angelo (Frank) of Lakewood Ranch, Florida; grandchildren, Luke, Grant, and Arden Melson; nieces, Marion Gould and Lauren Angelo of Sarasota, Florida; nephew, Josh Gould (Nichole) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Polly's wishes were to be cremated.  Inurnment will be in Holliston, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers remembrances may be given to Humane Society for Greater Savannah, 7215 Sallie Mood Drive, Savannah, Georgia  31406 or Guide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box  151200, San Rafael, California 94915-1200.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes – WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL (912) 748-2444