Melvin Jerome Piper, Sr. first greeted the world on June 4, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the youngest of the three sons born to Lionel H. Piper, Sr. and Marguerite (Simms) Piper. The family moved to the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, where they joined the rest of the Simms Family. This gave him the opportunity to be raised with all of his cousins, especially, his cousin/brother, Robert “Rabbit” McCommon. Melvin and Nedra had a blended family of his, mine and ours. After serving in the war, he married Clara Johnson. Years later he met Nedra L. (Wilson) Dargans and they were married for 54 years. He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service for over 40 years. He and Nedra were avid travelers along with his cousins. After retirement he got a job working at a pawn shop, and he loved it. His family was his heart, he loved spending time with them especially playing the family game of “Bonanza Rummy”. Melvin was an avid reader of novels and keeping abreast of current events. He also loved to ride motor-cycles in his younger years. On June 1, 2019 the Good Lord called Melvin home and he left behind his wife, three children, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.