Ms. Juanita Shores Melvin, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2023 at her residence. Juanita was a lifelong resident of Bay County and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Panama City, Florida. She was veracious; yet gentle and sweet in demeanor, never confrontational and always positively supportive.
Juanita began her working career at Graham Air Force Base in Marianna, Florida near the end of WWII where she formed many enduring friendships. Later, she worked for the Dept of Transportation in Chipley, Florida before retiring from the Dept of Children and Families in Bay County. Her unique sense for recognizing others’ needs led her to establish and co-own two ALF homes, The Manor and The Mulberry house. At one time, she also co-owned a funeral home.
Nothing brought her more pleasure than family gatherings where her food was always the favorite and took center stage. She is preceded in death by sons Kip and Steve Johnson, parents Joseph and Ida Nelson Shores, brothers Edward, Price, Carson, and Quinton Shores, sisters Kathleen Shores, Bernice Harper, and Laverne Gill. She is survived by her devoted son, William Zane Melvin, of Panama City, Florida, three loving grandchildren: Abigail, Leila and Blake Melvin, many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends who love and will miss her dearly.
Services for Ms. Melvin will be held Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 11am in the chapel of Wilson Funeral Home. Followed by a brief service at Compass Lake Cemetery at 2pm. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 6 – 8pm.
