Melinda Gros

Her Life Was a Gift. Her Legacy Lives On.
The Obituary of Melinda Jasmine Gros

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

In God’s own way, for His own purpose, and in His own time, He reached down from our midst on Friday, August 7, 2026, and called our beloved Melinda home to a land free from sorrow, pain, and trouble, a place where there are no more tears, sickness, or worry.

As preordained by God, Melinda graced this world on September 10, 1957, as the
beloved daughter of Leola Mae Populis and Dewey Jasmine, Jr. She was the fourth of five children born to this union. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life, and her spiritual journey was deeply rooted in the church. Woodville Baptist Church held a special place in her family’s life, where many of their earliest memories of worship and fellowship were formed. She was a cherished member of New Hope International Family Worship Center, where she shared her love for God through worship, prayer, and service. There, she was strengthened and encouraged by the preaching and teaching of the Word of God under the leadership of Dr. Claudette Aubert and Elder Elton Aubert.

Melinda attended Second Ward High School before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in
Elementary Education with an area of specialization in Special Education from Nicholls State University. She later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education with a minor in Evangelism from Christian Bible College.

With her steps ordered by the Lord, Melinda began her divine assignment at Our Lady of Grace, where her calling to educate and serve proved rewarding both academically and spiritually. When asked why she chose to teach at a Catholic school, she explained, “It was divinely inspired. My steps are ordered by the Lord, and where He leads, I must follow.”

When that assignment was complete, the Lord led her to St. John, St. James, and
Lafourche Parish Schools. For more than 20 years, she educated, encouraged, and
touched lives both academically and spiritually, leaving an impression that extended far beyond the classroom. She didn't simply teach lessons; she taught lives. She touched countless students, families, and faculty members. Perhaps one of the greatest testaments to the teacher she was could be heard in the response of her students whenever her name was mentioned: “That’s my favorite teacher.”

Blessed were the works of her hands.

There are some people who simply live their lives, and then there are those who leave pieces of themselves everywhere they go. Melinda Jasmine Gros was that kind of woman. She had a heart that made room for people, a spirit that brought people together, and a gift for making memories that would last a lifetime.

Her life was deeply rooted in her love for God. An evangelist, prayer warrior, songstress, and songwriter, she found joy in worship, praise, and ministering to others. God blessed her with a beautiful, anointed voice through which she touched hearts, encouraged souls, and blessed countless lives. God also blessed her with a prophetic gift through which she received His words, faithfully recorded them, and delivered His messages to those for whom they were intended. Her voice was not simply something she used to sing. It was one of the ways she served.

For more than 20 years, she poured that same love into children as a dedicated
schoolteacher. But her heart for children never stopped at the classroom door. She was the woman who could fill a van with children from the community, gather her own children alongside them, and turn an ordinary outing into a memory they would carry for the rest of their lives. To this day, people speak fondly of those days, sharing how much they treasured the memories she created and how much they miss those special outings with her.

She had an adventurous spirit and a gift for bringing people together. Through her
beloved Vacherie Travel Group, she planned charter bus excursions, cruises, Disney World trips, and other adventures, always making sure her children were right there beside her. She didn't simply plan trips. She created experiences. And those experiences became memories so meaningful that people still talk about them and tell her children how much they miss the trips she used to organize.

On May 3, 1980, Melinda united in holy matrimony with Edmond Dago Gros, Jr. Their union was blessed with three children: Edmond Gros III, Angelle Gros, and Raquel Gros.

She loved her husband deeply and spoke of him with pride and gratitude, never missing an opportunity to tell others how good he was to her and how blessed she felt to have him. She cherished the love they shared and was deeply grateful for the life they built together. Some of her happiest moments were found in the simple things they shared, including quiet evenings together watching television.

She was a gifted songwriter whose love of music was woven into the very fabric of her life. She shared her love of music with her daughter, Angelle, who helped bring her vision for the album Mountain Get Out of My Way to life, a collection of songs born from a shared gift, a shared love of music, and a shared love of God. It was a vision she had long carried in her heart, with a desire to create music that would change lives and draw others closer to Christ.

Her creativity found its way into many aspects of her life. In her younger years, she
used her hands to sew and create clothing for herself and her sisters. Whether she was behind a sewing machine, standing before a congregation, teaching a classroom full of children, planning the next adventure, filling a bus, or packing her van, Melinda had a way of pouring love into whatever she touched. Whether she was singing a song, praying for someone, or simply sitting beside her husband watching television, Melinda had a way of making every moment memorable.

The works of her hands, the songs of her heart, and the memories she created will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband, Edmond Dago Gros, Jr.; her children, Edmond Gros III (Kirstin), Angelle Gros, and Raquel Gros; her grandchildren, Jahleel Cheavis, Unique Tilford, Queen Nathan, and Skylar Gros; her siblings, Leola Mae Poydras Lebeouf, Joseph Jasmine, Sr., Neal Fifi, and Andrew Jasmine, Sr.; her godchildren, Tiffany Peterson and Rayshawn Burdis; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Family members in heaven awaiting Melinda’s arrival are her beloved parents, Leola Mae Populis and Dewey Jasmine, Jr.; grandparents, Lorena Jasmine and Dewey Jasmine, Sr., and Melvina Joseph Populis and Freddie Populis, Sr.; stepfather, Richard Joseph; sisters, Diane Peterson, Maybelline Burdis, Lorena Valentine, and Geraldine Melancon; mother-in-law, Francine Gros; father-in-law, Edmond Gros, Sr.; nephew, Brandon Gros; and niece, Brianne Gros.

We thank God for the gift that was Melinda.

She was, in every sense of the word, unforgettable.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at New Hope International Ministries, 21490 LA-20, Vacherie, LA 70090; visitation from 9:00AM to 11:00AM followed by the service for 11:00AM. Interment Woodville Cemetery, Wallace, LA 70049.

Final care and professional services entrusted to Treasures of Life Funeral Services, 315 E. Airline Hwy., Gramercy, LA 70052.

"When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a TREASURE"