As the dew fell on that morning in the fall of 1981, heaven and earth rejoiced. It was immediately and abundantly clear that the world would be a better place because a beautiful baby girl had arrived. Her cries shattered the silence in the city of Rochester, New York as Janice Marie Barber and James Rolle rejoiced at the birth of their last child whom they named Jamella Ebony. She was affectionately called “Mello”.

Mello spent her childhood in Fort Pierce, Florida where she attended pre, primary and junior high schools. She completed her high school education at Fort Pierce Central School, graduating in May, 2000. Mello’s determination to succeed led her to enroll into Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. Her fond love for Tallahassee prompted her to settle there for most of her adulthood.

Jamella was conscientious and diligent, a team player. Her honesty and integrity and were beyond question and she was indeed an asset to her places of employ, namely, Scenic Landscaping & Maintenance Florida, Florida Healthy Kids, Tallahassee Florida, Teak Isle Manufacturing Inc., Orlando, The Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel, Vero Beach, and the State of Florida, Department of Health, Tallahassee.

Mello was raised in a Christian home and taught in the ways of the Lord. She attended the Macedonia S.D.A. church (Fort Pierce, FL). She was involved in numerous church activities including, the choir and Vacation Bible School. This upbringing was palpable in her dealings with others.

Mello was a gem. She loved life; she was always up for a challenge, eager to learn. She relished in some of her favorite quotes which provided impetus for her many challenges: “It takes a lot of courage to push through hard times”; “Alpha females don’t run in packs. She is often alone, keeps her circle small, knows her power and works in silence”; “Don’t be afraid to start over. It’s a chance to build something better this time”; “Things you can’t get back: The stone after it’s thrown, the word after it’s said, the occasion after it’s missed, the time after it’s gone.” Mello cared deeply for others and was unrelenting in her efforts to assist wherever she could. She was generous and exuded a warm spirit, welcoming all with open arms. She was intelligent, a high achiever, whom we regarded highly and exhibited our confidence in her as our private investigator and lawyer.

Family was important to Mello. Her nieces and nephews loved her, and waited eagerly for her to take them to The Kids Wood Camp. Her siblings and cousins also enjoyed her kinship as she was the life of the party. She particularly cherished those precious moments of family gatherings and endeavored to ensure that everyone was happy. All who knew Mello were recipients of the fine qualities of a wonderful person. She nurtured and cared for her only child, her son Jamerick. She was so proud to witness his achievements in May 2020 as he graduated, with honors, in May 2020.

Mello, like all of us, had challenges, but she continued to press on. On May 5, 2023 Jamella was found unresponsive by her special friend Alex and died in the early morning hours. We wished that Mello could be with us forever, but God’s plans prevail and he put Mello to rest. She was loved and will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will convene on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at Fort Pierce Seventh Day Adventist Church in Fort Pierce, FL beginning at 11:00am.

Although many venues have opened and the restrictions of COVID-19 have been relaxed, we at Stone Brothers Funeral Homes are still enforcing the guidelines set forth by the CDC and FDOH to protect our families and our staff. We ask that you respect this, as it could very well save your life. We also ask that you acknowledge and execute the 6 feet social distancing guidelines as well.