In Loving Memory of Melinda Jolly

It is with a very heavy heart and so much sadness and pain that I have to inform you of what’s happened….

Some of you know my little sister, Melinda’s, story and why she moved to Georgia, but some of you don’t. In 2019, when Melinda was pregnant with her youngest children, two twin boys, they found out that her husband, Dirk, had stage four colorectal cancer. Shortly after having the twins, Dirk lost his battle with cancer. Dirk and Melinda also have another child together, their daughter, Harmony, then 7 now 11 years old, and Melinda also had her first son, Michael, then 17 now 22 years old. Melinda was left with four children and had to do it without the love of her life by her side. She decided to move to Georgia to be closer to some of our family and start a new life.

On Wednesday January 17th, 2024, I received a call from my brother Tommy where he informed me that my sister Melinda Jolly was found dead in her home in Marietta, Georgia. We recently found out she was in an abusive relationship. My Mom and I live in California, so we have been calling the police department where she lives so that they could send police officers to her house to do welfare checks. The last time they checked on her was Monday January 15th. My cousin Jill went to Melinda’s home on Wednesday January 17th to check on her and that is when she was found, Melinda was no longer with us.

The abusive monster took Melinda’s life. The Cobb County Police Department put a warrant out for his arrest shortly after and he was nowhere to be found. They finally located him Thursday, but in Florida. Thank God he was taken into custody there before he could hurt anybody else.

Melinda was a kind, compassionate young woman with her whole life ahead of her. She had a sparkle in her eye, and truly lit up a room. She loved animals, french music, and she was the fastest runner. She had a big heart and loved her children with everything she had. She was the best mom, a beloved daughter, a caring sister, a whimsical aunt, a gracious niece, and a forever friend. She was just a beautiful person inside and out. She had the best smile and the craziest ideas. She will be missed by so many.

Please pray for the children because they are left without a mother and a father. It will be a long road of healing and rebuilding for everyone. Please pray for our entire family, we are all devastated beyond belief.

My brother, Tommy Jolly and his wife Stacey will be taking care of the three young ones while also taking care of their five children. Any assistance they can get will be helpful to the kids.

If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call the domestic violence hotline at (800)-799-SAFE or

text START to 88788

Thank you for your time.