It is with profound sorrow that the Management and Support Staff of Nelson's Funeral Home sadly announce the death of Mr. Melvin S. Glenn, 66, of Winnsboro, South Carolina. 

Mr. Glenn departed his earthly life Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at Palmetto Baptist Hospital, Columbia, South Carolina.  

Services for Mr. Glenn will be held Monday, October 10, 2016, 1:00 p.m. at Francis Burns United Methodist Church, 5616 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC 29203.  Interment will be held at Fort Jackson National Cemetery Tuesday, October 11, 2016, 12:00 noon. The family will receive friends at the  funeral home on Sunday, October 9, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

No public viewing.

Just about any room he walked in, he knew nearly everybody in it. That's because, Melvin Sims Glenn, who departed this earthly world on October 4, 2016 had a big personality and smile that were contagious and he was one of the most social people you would ever want to meet. Life excited him and he lived it with gusto. He loved people, always stood his ground and spoke his mind. He could say and ask things that if someone else said it, the recipient might be offended, but because Melvin was so real and spoke from his heart, his frankness brought smiles and responses like, "Melvin you are so crazy," or "You're right." He was the life of the party and kept people of all ages and backgrounds laughing. He was somebody you were always glad to see and you looked forward to the stories he had to tell--his and yours. 

Melvin had a big heart and would go out of his way to help those he loved. He once drove in an ice storm to pick up his sister in Washington, D.C., whose flight had been canceled and she couldn't get home for Christmas. Just two weeks ago, he worked through severe back pain to change a sister's flat when her roadside service was late. 

Melvin owned a barbershop and worked six days there and the seventh day cutting hair at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, but he made time to attend early church services and would take off to travel to D.C. and Virginia to attend his nieces and nephews high school and college graduations. And if he couldn't visit those he cared about, he would call often just to say hi, but not during the Washington professional football team's games--he was a major fan as evidenced in his man cave. He also loved racing events, gardening, home improvement projects, cooking, was a former avid motorcycle rider and above all, loved spending time with family and friends. 

Melvin was born on Nov. 25, 1949 and was the second child of Benjamin Lawrence Glenn, Sr. (deceased) and Neresa Sims Glenn. He grew up in a Christian home and attended Shiloh Presbyterian Church in his early years and later joined Francis Burns United Methodist Church. He graduated from Fairfield High School in Winnsboro, served in the U.S. Air Force and did a tour of Vietnam. After leaving the service, he attended and graduated from Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC. After working for various companies, he decided to be his own boss and opened Universal Styles Barbershop in Columbia and served a diverse clientele until a brief illness took him home to be with the Lord.  

To cherish his memory, he leaves his wife, Sandra Thomas Glenn; his daughters, India C.V. (George) Foster of San Antonio, Tx and Cassandra Belton of Charlotte, NC; son, Marvin R. (Adrian) Glenn of Columbia, SC; godson, Portunda Fogle of  Chandler, AZ; mother, Neresa Sims Glenn, Winnsboro, SC; two brothers, Benjamin L. (Josephine) Glenn, Jr. of Mitchellville, MD, and Nelson W. Glenn of Flint, Michigan; four sisters, Mary V. Bland of Virginia, Constance P. Glenn of Columbia, SC, Teresa Glenn-Gresham (Carl) of Upper Marlboro, MD and Gwendolyn Glenn of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Marvin D. Glenn, Delorian K. Glenn, Gracelynn K. Foster, George L. Foster, III, Vontrae Belton, Reggie Belton; great-granddaughter, Skylar Miller; six step-grandchildren; in-laws, Lucy Thomas and Willie Thomas and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. 

In addition to his father, Benjamin L. Glenn, Sr., Melvin was preceded in death by his son Kareem J. Glenn and one brother, Harold Vinson Glenn.

Just about any room he walked in, he knew nearly everybody in it. That's because, Melvin Sims Glenn, who departed this earthly world on October 4, 2016 had a big personality and smile that were contagious and he was one of the most social people you would ever want to meet. Life excited him and he lived it with gusto. He loved people, always stood his ground and spoke his mind. He could say and ask things that if someone else said it, the recipient might be offended, but because Melvin was so real and spoke from his heart, his frankness brought smiles and responses like, "Melvin you are so crazy," or "You're right." He was the life of the party and kept people of all ages and backgrounds laughing. He was somebody you were always glad to see and you looked forward to the stories he had to tell--his and yours.

Melvin had a big heart and would go out of his way to help those he loved. He once drove in an ice storm to pick up his sister in Washington, D.C., whose flight had been canceled and she couldn't get home for Christmas. Just two weeks ago, he worked through severe back pain to change a sister's flat when her roadside service was late.

Melvin owned a barbershop and worked six days there and the seventh day cutting hair at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, but he made time to attend early church services and would take off to travel to D.C. and Virginia to attend his nieces and nephews high school and college graduations. And if he couldn't visit those he cared about, he would call often just to say hi, but not during the Washington professional football team's games--he was a major fan as evidenced in his man cave. He also loved racing events, gardening, home improvement projects, cooking, was a former avid motorcycle rider and above all, loved spending time with family and friends.

Melvin was born on Nov. 25, 1949 and was the second child of Benjamin Lawrence Glenn, Sr. (deceased) and Neresa Sims Glenn. He grew up in a Christian home and attended Shiloh Presbyterian Church in his early years and later joined Francis Burns United Methodist Church. He graduated from Fairfield High School in Winnsboro, served in the U.S. Air Force and did a tour of Vietnam. After leaving the service, he attended and graduated from Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC. After working for various companies, he decided to be his own boss and opened Universal Styles Barbershop in Columbia and served a diverse clientele until a brief illness took him home to be with the Lord. 

To cherish his memory, he leaves his wife, Sandra Thomas Glenn; his daughters, India C.V. (George) Foster of San Antonio, Tx and Cassandra Belton of Charlotte, NC; son, Marvin R. (Adrian) Glenn of Columbia, SC; godson, Portunda Fogle of  Chandler, AZ; mother, Neresa Sims Glenn, Winnsboro, SC; two brothers, Benjamin L. (Josephine) Glenn, Jr. of Mitchellville, MD, and Nelson W. Glenn of Flint, Michigan; four sisters, Mary V. Bland of Virginia, Constance P. Glenn of Columbia, SC, Teresa Glenn-Gresham (Carl) of Upper Marlboro, MD and Gwendolyn Glenn of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Marvin D. Glenn, Delorian K. Glenn, Gracelynn K. Foster, George L. Foster, III, Vontrae Belton, Reggie Belton; great-granddaughter, Skylar Miller; six step-grandchildren; in-laws, Lucy Thomas and Willie Thomas and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

In addition to his father, Benjamin L. Glenn, Sr., Melvin was preceded in death by his son Kareem J. Glenn and one brother, Harold Vinson Glenn.

 Service Information