Evalyn Claire Melton Bolding, 87, met her Creator face to face on Jan. 27, 2011. The Lord and all His hosts in heaven rejoiced on her arrival home.

She was born Dec. 15, 1923, in Itta Bena. At age 2 she moved with her family to the family home in West, Miss. She graduated from MSCW with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1945 and obtained her master’s degree from the University of North Carolina in 1948.

She taught the fifth grade at Sea Isle Elementary School in Memphis until her retirement. She continued to teach adult vocational education classes until her second retirement.

Claire had been a faithful member of Second Presbyterian Church since 1950.

She was greeted in heaven by her parents, John Robert and Mabel Susie Melton of West; brothers, Robert and Roy Melton; a sister, Willie Davis; and a daughter, Evalyn Grace May.

Claire leaves behind a sister, Laura Bowie of Pensacola, Fla.; a son, Robert Bolding (Ingrid) of Memphis; three daughters, Tommye Strickland (Joe) of Vicksburg, Shela Allred (Bill) of Bedford, Texas, and Paula Rutledge of Atlanta, Ga.; grandsons, Robert Snipes, John Snipes, Christopher Strickland, Mark Bolding and Cecil Allred; granddaughters, Melissa Johnson, Laura Strickland, Buffy Connor, Rachel May and Katherine Bolding; six great-grandsons; one stepgrandson; and four great-granddaughters.

It is hard to place in glowing words an obituary of a beloved one departed, however, words deplete themselves in value over time. The real substance of worth is the values the individual instills in those they leave behind.

We praise the Creator for giving us such a wonderful woman and mother. We know in our hearts she is in His hands.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of her life to us and thank you, Claire Bolding.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in the Chapel of Second Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until the hour of the service at the church.

The family would like to express sincere love and appreciation for Mona, Jeri and Susan of Odyssey Hospice for their unselfish devotion to her during her last days on earth.

Memorials may be sent to Second Presbyterian Church, 4055 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38111; Odyssey Hospice Patient Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119; or Genesis Legacy of Life, 44 S. Cleveland, Memphis TN 38104.