Melvin Randal Elia

Funeral services for Melvin Randal Elia of England, AR, formerly of Winona, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 28, in the Oliver Funeral Home Chapel, with burial following in Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery near Kilmichael.

Visitation will be held Sunday, January 28, from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Melvin Randal Elia, 66, passed away January 20, 2024.  Randy was born in Moline, Illinois to the late Serena (Kincher) and Dr. Jack Elia, Jr. on July 11, 1957.

Randy was an avid Mississippi State Football fan.  He loved nature and all animals, especially cats.  He liked to feed the stray cats that hung around the church parking lot. He always asked every cat owner he knew how their cat was doing every time he talked to them.  He and his wife, Donna, have three cats and two of them they rescued. 

He loved cars, especially Mustangs and his Mustang Fox Body that he wanted to restore and take to car shows with his wife once they retired.  He loved his Bad Boy lawn mower, his wife, and his friends and neighbors and was always available to lend a helping hand when needed for his family and friends. 

He and his wife, Donna, were married for 45 years and have lived in Winona, MS, Springfield, MO, Cleveland, MS and England, AR.  Randy was raised with a strong work ethic and excelled in the steel industry as an estimator with companies in each of those cities.  He was a Vice President at Lexion, Inc.

He is survived by his wife, Donna, a sister, Louise Mullins of Starkville, MS, longtime friends Ronnie and Pam Linhard of Ozark, MO, Bobby Bell, Winona MS, and a host of family members and friends that loved and admired him.