Obituaries

Dr. Melvin Leonard Oakley M.D.

Melvin Leonard Oakley, age 75, passed away in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 23, 2026.
Melvin, son of Vernon and Willie Mae Oakley, was raised in South Hill, Virginia. He was a graduate of the University of Richmond and the Medical College of Virginia. In 1982, he founded Eufaula Internal Medicine, where he practiced medicine for 35 years. Melvin would later go on to found Krowten Capital with his business partner, Chad Trull, and would play a major role in businesses such as HospiceLink and HighFive Healthcare. Melvin was known for his adoration of chocolate, his appreciation of fine wines, and his fascination with cars, planes, and anything else that goes fast. He loved spending time with his family and exercising on his rowing machine whenever he got the chance. Melvin is survived by his beloved spouse, Cindy; his daughter, Christa (Michael) Moore, and son, William (Kate) Oakley; his stepsons, Robert (Kelly) Lockwood, and Jay (Lori) Lockwood; his eight grandchildren; his brothers, Vernon Oakley, Jr. and Woody (Cynthia) Oakley, and his sister, Charlotte Hoy. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Deborah Crews Oakley, and his parents. The family extends its deepest gratitude to Jeannette Dorsey-Williams. Special thanks to the staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center and the SICU staff at UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham for their compassionate care. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 13th at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1400 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209. The family will receive friends for visitation one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Melvin’s name to the following organizations: ● Donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network can be made at pancan.org/donate, or through the mail at 2101 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 3200, El Segundo, CA 90245. ● Donations to Connections Respite Ministry can be made at First United Methodist Church, 101 E Barbour Street, Eufaula, AL 36027. A service will be held at a later date in South Hill, Virginia. Once the service is scheduled, it will be posted on this website.