HOPEWELL, Va. — Melinda Ann Cagle’s daughter April remembers her mother as a woman who loved taking care of others. She said growing up, Melinda’s Hopewell home was always open to friends.
“She loved her family more than anything, as well as our friends who became our family,” April said. “She would feed our friends and loved them as her own children.”
While Melinda had a big heart, she also had health issues — specifically — April said her mom suffered from seizures.
Those seizures, April said, were usually triggered by stress or when her mom became overwhelmed with emotion.
The month of May started off with plenty of emotion for Melinda’s family.
On May 2, her daughter April got married.
On May 5, Melinda celebrated her 60th birthday.
On May 7, Melinda’s son got married.
That was a Saturday. The next day — Sunday — was Mother’s Day.
April said she had left the house to say goodbye to family that was in town for the wedding.
When she got back home — her mother did not respond when she called out from the front door.
Once April got inside, she and her husband found Melinda in the bathroom.
She had suffered another seizure.
This one would her last.
April said her mother was pronounced dead before ever making it to the hospital.
April said she had enough money to pay for a wedding and to get her mom something for Mother’s Day, but was not prepared to bury her mother.
The family has created a GoFundMe page and asked for help from the community.