Melanie Jones Bryson of El Cerrito, California passed away on October 21, 2019. Born on January 4, 1964, in Richlands, Virginia, she was the daughter of James H. and Patty C. Jones of Bluefield, Virginia.

A musical prodigy who wrote her first symphony at age 3, she was a piano student of Pat Feuchtenberger from age 5 to age 17. She graduated from Graham High School and later studied at Berkelee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Melanie's true musical love was jazz. She was a world-class jazz musician, working with artists including Joe Henderson and Donald Byrd. Her love of jazz led her to the love of her life, Kent Bryson, a fellow jazz musician. The were married in 1993 and are the parents of a cherished daughter, Chelsey Jones Bryson and beloved son, Sam Gilligan Bryson.

Melanie played with White Heat in Boston, the Napa Symphony in California and musical theater productions in San Francisco, California, including the shows Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, and Rent, for which she also conducted. She worked for eight months with the original composers and cast of Wicked before it's premier on the Broadway stage in New York City. She was a prolific composer/arranger, including composer and arranger credits on the film "All the Vermeers in New York."

Multiple Sclerosis forced her early retirement from professional music at age 40. Later in life she found a passion for geology, and was the recipient of a seismograph granted by the U.S. Geological Service, the only such award for a private residence. Her most recent role was as devoted activist for local and national issues. Of her many roles, among her favorites was that of beloved family member, generous friend and loving pet parent.

Melanie was preceded in death by her mother, Patty Cole Jones, and in-laws, Robert and Barbara Bryson. She is survived by her husband, Kent Bryson, of El Cerrito, California; her daughter, Chelsey Bryson, of Honolulu, Hawaii; her son, Sam Bryson, of Oakland, California; her father, James Jones, of Bluefield, Virginia; her sister, Julia Jones and her husband, Bachir Mihoubi, of Atlanta, Georgia; her brother-in-law Forest Bryson and his wife, Gretchen, of Occidental, California; her sister-in-law Candra Bryson of Roanoke, Virginia; her cousin, Martha Jones Chaffins of Bluefield, Virginia, and extended family and friends too numerous to mention who brought her great happiness and joy.

A service celebrating Melanie's life will be held at First United Methodist Church in Bluefield, Virginia on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The American Lung Association and Save the Music Foundation.