Melvin Jackson Senior was born September 11, 1947, to Mary K. Jackson and Booth E. Williams along with his twin brother Marvin in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. As a child, along with his 11 siblings, Melvin became a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Brownsville High School.

During his late teens and early 20s, along with some of his brothers, Melvin moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1968, Melvin married Gloria and from this union they had three children, Angela, Marlynn, and Melvin Jr. In the early 80s, Melvin retained a job with RTA and became a bus driver until 1991. In 1991, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia. During no time in Atlanta, he married Arlene. During this union, they had one child, Deleon. He began working for a construction company until his retirement in 2013.

Melvin was affectionately known as “Bannie” by family and close friends. He loved his family. Taking a trip home to Brownsville made him extremely happy. He would constantly say I love my family. His daily tasks with his sister Shirley were one of the highlights of his day. Hanging out with his daughter Marlynn was always a ball of fun laughter, and jokes, he loves being around his grand and great grandchildren.

In 2018, Melvin moved back to Cleveland where he remained and became a member of Imani United Church of Christ, until God called him home on November 24, 2022.

He was preceded in death by his wife Arlene Jackson; parents, Mary K. Jackson and Booth E. Williams; children, Angela R Jackson, Melvin Jackson Jr., Deleon J Gist; grandson Elijah Jackson; siblings, Delores Jackson, Leta Bagley, Beatrice Walker, Bert Jackson, Marvin Jackson, Leonard Jackson Sr.

Melvin leaves to mourn daughter Marlynn Jackson; siblings, Shirley Jarpley, Kenneth Jackson, Kathy (Stanley) Crable, Emery Jackson, Fred Dunken; brother-in-law Edward Bagley, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.