Melba Coston Epps 2/14/21 Our Matriarch, our Mimi and our Aunt Sis went lovingly into the embrace of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the most perfect manner. She passed peacefully while getting up and to get ready for church with her favorite Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church on Valentine’s Day morning. She was born on September 29, 1929 to Weldon A. Coston and Linnie Rainey Coston in Delta County, Texas. She married Martin Lee Epps Jr. while attending college and getting her BA in Health/Physical Education at East Texas State University (now known as Texas A&M Commerce). Soon after, both she and Martin Lee began their teaching careers together in Wink, Texas and then later moved to Andrews, Texas, where Martin Lee was High School Band Director. After deciding on career changes, they moved to Amarillo, Texas with their two boys, Marty and Chris. It was there that Melba decided to pursue what turned into her passion: Residential Real Estate. Beginning at First Equity, then moving into an exclusive partnership with Richard Farrell Builders, our Mimi reached extraordinary levels of success. Martin Lee and Melba moved to Dallas in 1984, where Melba continued her calling as a Broker/Realtor of her own company, Melba Epps Realty until her retirement in 2007. Lovingly called the “Matchmaker of the Market” Melba would insist she never “worked” a single day in Real Estate. Truly a pioneer, Melba was instrumental in adopting digital marketing to interfaces such as the Multiple Listing Service, among others. Melba prided herself on knowing the market and specifics of each locale in DFW where she served. Finding the perfect first home for a young couple or a dream retirement paradise for a retiring couple was truly her life’s calling, just behind caring for her family. Now celebrating her heavenly homecoming, Melba was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Martin Lee; her oldest son, Marty Epps; and her beloved brother, Travis Coston of Paris, Texas, who passed away just a few weeks prior on January 7th. She joins these dear ones and is now in the presence of her loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Melba is survived by her son, Christopher Epps, of Dallas, Texas; grandsons, Isaac and Isaiah Epps, of Denton and Lewisville, Texas respectively; and their Mom, Sheri Lynn Chester-Epps of Denton, Texas. She is also survived by her Prayer Warrior baby sister, Beverly Rodgers, and sister-in-law, Jean Coston of Paris. Also, her nieces, Dana Rodgers Willoughby and husband Rob; Nikki Rodgers Ragsdale and husband Jon; Gency Coston Fortenberry and husband Mike; Trava Coston Drake and husband Richard; and nephew, Bubba Coston and wife Susan, and their families, all of Paris, Texas. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Doris Quinn and husband Mike, of Irving, Texas and niece, Deanna Schneider of Denver, Colorado, as well as niece, Karen Sue Durst and her husband, Dave of Reno, Nevada and nephew, Richard Epps, of Amarillo, Texas. A private family service will be held in the future, and in lieu of flowers, Melba would ask that “folks remove the silly masks, get the kids back in school, and stop allowing others to sow division in her beloved American family.” We may have lost our Matriarch, but we know she is already listing mansions in paradise for ALL who might join her in her Father’s Heavenly Home!