Beverly Baxter Mele, 77, went to heaven peacefully on Jan 10, 2021, with her immediate family by her side, after a valiant battle with scleroderma and brain cancer. No matter what life dealt, good or bad, she affectionately dubbed it all as “Mele Magic”! Bev is preceded in death by her parents, Carlos and Verna Baxter, and her siblings Richard Baxter, Jerry Baxter and Betty Baxter Neidhart.

Beverly was born in Atlantic, IA where she grew up on a farm and graduated from Atlantic High School, 1961. She attended Morningside College, Sioux City, IA, but soon transferred to Pembroke Univ to be closer to the love of her life, Angelo Mele, who was stationed in NC as an Army Paratrooper. They met two years prior through Angelo’s bunkmate from Iowa who encouraged Beverly to write to Angelo…and that’s how they fell in love before ever even seeing each other! They married in Atlantic, IA on Aug 30, 1963 and had three children, moving every year with Angelo’s manager position for Rose’s Stores. They landed in Va Beach in 1974 and decided to never move again! Soon they met Fr French and joined Church of the Ascension where they’ve been faithful members, involved in service and Knights of Columbus, ever since.

Beverly valued her marriage and children first-and-foremost her entire life. She stayed home with the kids the first 12 yrs until she embarked upon what became a 33-year career as a Va State Police Dispatcher in Chesapeake, VA. She also returned to college to earn her Associate in Science Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in 1993 from Tidewater Community College. Bev then fulfilled her lifelong goal of obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 1996 from Saint Leo College.

During her loyal service to Va State Police, she gained many friends she treasured deeply even after retirement. Many referred to her as “Mama-Mele” and have expressed such sentiments as “we knew we would be well taken care of when we heard her voice on the radio”.  After retiring in 2010, she and Angelo enjoyed many cruises and trips, site-seeing and visiting family/friends every chance they had. Bev truly lived out loud, expressing her love for life and family constantly through her perpetual smile and little mantras like “LIFE IS GOOD”!

Beverly is survived by her faithful husband of 57 years, Angelo, her children: Christina Mele of Va Beach, Scott and Kim (McCollum) Mele of Nashville, TN, and Bryan Mele of Lynchburg, VA, as well as her grandkids: Charles Marsh of Melfa, VA, David Marsh of Newton Falls, OH and Asa Rain Mele of Nashville, TN. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends – all of whom she truly cherished – too numerous to name.

Adhering to Covid Protocols, a socially distanced funeral Mass, with everyone wearing masks, will be held at Church of the Ascension (4853 Princess Anne Rd, Va Beach) on Thurs, Feb 11th at 1:00 pm EST (doors open at 12:30), followed by internment in the Columbarium at the church (weather permitting). Those who can’t travel or attend in person may view the live-streamed service at www.ascensionvb.org at 1:00 pm. There will be no reception at this time.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity/cause in memory of Bev.