A service to honor the life of Melba Jordan Cruse will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 25, 2022 at Jennings Chapel CMC near Marthaville, La. Burial will follow at Marthaville Cemetery under direction of Blanchard St Denis. The family will receive friends from 11 am until service time. Melba Jordan Cruse was born on March 18, 1947 in Robeline, La. to Richard and Maudie Jordan. She departed this life on November 22,2022. She was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Maudie Jordan; husband, Pete Cruse; son, Albert “Brother” Graves Jr.; great grandson, Abram Smith; brothers, Clyde Raymond Jordan, Glen Jordan, and Travis Jordan; and a sister, Dollie Stroud. She is survived by daughters, Ponda Broadway and husband Kevin of Robeline, La, Ronda Rains and husband Bill of Marthaville, La, Fonda Russell and husband Bryan of Florien, La, and Denise Smith and husband Lonnie of Marthaville, La; one son, Stacy Cruse and wife Kristene of Marthaville, La; sisters, Effie Ates, Faye Mitcham, and Bobbie Meshell; brothers, Ted Jordan, Terry Dale Jordan and Buddy Jordan; and special sister-in-law and friend Dwanna Hunnicutt; twenty-one grandchildren, fifty-eight great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren, as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Melba was tiny but mighty! She was bold, opinionated, fierce! She never had a social life, home was all she knew. Except the time she took a job, to pay a bill or two. She found her strength from faith in God and the love of family. The truest testament of a life well lived is the number of people who loved you. She lived life well! Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Ronny Arterberry, Adam Graves, Fred Graves, Josh Clark, Dustin Meshell and Kennth Downs. Honorary pallbearers include Josh Haigh, Sean Bass, Brandon Clark and Terry Dale Jordan.