On March 8, 2024, the Lord called, and Mrs. Sylvia Arnett Melvin answered that call and peacefully entered His loving arms at her home in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Sylvia, known affectionately to her friends and family as "Arnetta", was born on December 4, 1938, in Richmond, Virginia, the second child and only daughter of the late Robert Whitaker, Sr. and Bernice Arnett Whitaker. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age and was a member of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church for over 70 years. Arnetta attended Armstrong High School, where she was a member of the Latin Club and the Majorettes and graduated in 1956.

Arnetta married her high school sweetheart, Robert S. Melvin, Jr., on December 5, 1958, and the two were blessed to be married for over 65 years. Their loving union produced two children, Darshell and Denzel.

Arnetta worked in the meat department at Safeway Stores before retiring in 1989 after 28 years of dedicated service.

Arnetta loved caring for others. She loved old and young alike, always doing anything she could for children or more "mature" citizens. She was a gifted seamstress, making some of her children's clothes when they were young, and she enjoyed keeping up the flowers in her garden. For years after Arnetta retired, she would meet her former co-workers for monthly lunches to fellowship and enjoy each other's company.

Arnetta was likely best known for her delicious cooking. Whether it was her fried chicken, spoon bread, corn pudding, rolls, biscuits, cakes, or pies, she was truly a talent in the kitchen. Arnetta was always happy to cook for anyone, and it was one way she showed her love for friends, family, and strangers alike. Most notably, Arnetta was known far and wide for the fruitcakes she made and distributed every holiday season until her health began to fail.

In addition to her parents, Arnetta was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Whitaker Jr. and Obadiah Whitaker, and her daughter, Darshell D. Melvin-Hines.

Arnetta leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Robert S. Melvin, Jr.; son, Denzel Melvin; grandchildren, Malcolm X. Hines (Rebecca) and Erica Melvin; great-granddaughter, Myaa Collins; brothers, Thomas Whitaker and Gerald Whitaker (Lillie); sister-in-law, Janice Whitaker; brother-in-law, Rev. Irvin D. Melvin (Shearline); and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

The family offers special thanks to Theresa Broaddus and Alice Flanagan for all their help over the years and throughout Arnetta's period of declining health.

Lastly, but certainly not least, the family is eternally grateful for Arnetta's "adopted daughter" and caretaker, Deborah Vaughan.