Funeral services for Mr. Melvin Sidney Johnston, age 78, of Monroe, LA will be at 3:00 PM Thursday, June 7, 2007 at First United Methodist Church of Monroe with Rev. Terry Love officiating. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Monroe under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe. Mr. Johnston was born April 25, 1929 in Monroe, LA and passed away on June 3, 2007 in Monroe, LA. With over thirty years of service, he retired from the Monroe Fire Department as a communication≠s officer. Mr. Johnston was a member of First United Methodist Church of Monroe. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Annie Johnston, and an infant twin sister, Nelwyn Ann. Mr. Johnston is survived by his cousins June Morton and husband, Bob of Livingston, TX, Jack Johnston of Dallas, TX, Carolyn Strang and husband, Bill of Murfreesboro, TN, Mike Johnston and wife, Susan of Shreveport, LA, Charles Dean and wife, Carolyn of Oakdale, LA, Carol Waddell and husband, Joe of Shreveport, LA, Marion Ingram and husband, Leo of Vicksburg, MS, Mary Frances Moffett of Amory, MS, and Beverly Martin of Cedar Oaks, TX, and special friends and caregivers: Rev. Terry Love, Ann and Bob Ford, Jacque and Conroy Hines, and Celie and Charlie Flynn. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Hayward, S. F. M. C. North CVICU nurses, and Melanie Massey Physical Therapy for their exceptional care of Melvin during his illnesses. Melvin was a beloved son, nephew, cousin, and friend; an inspiration and a blessing to everyone who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Pallbearers will be Jarvis Renfrow, Monte McGough, Mike Inzina, Harold Lenard, Mike Johnston, and Conroy Hines. Honorary pallbearers will be current and retired employees of the Monroe Fire Department. Visitation will be 2:00 PM until service time in the parlor of First United Methodist Church of Monroe. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Monroe, LA. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.