Remembering Sister Melia Farrakhan

By Final Call News | Last updated: Nov 18, 2015 - 12:30:05 PM

Sister Melia Farrakhan Photo: Richard B. Muhammad

CHICAGO - Melia Maria Farrakhan, a granddaughter of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, was remembered for her humor, her smile, her loyalty during recent funeral services and a gathering of family and friends.

The eldest daughter of Joshua and Marie Farrakhan was remembered Nov. 10 as the Farrakhan family and friends honored her during services at Gatling’s Chapel funeral home, which was presided over by Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, and at an afternoon repast held at Salaam Restaurant.

Allah (God) has a fixed time for every life, said Ishmael Muhammad. As Muslims we do not feel cheated when Allah calls his servants home because all of us will eventually return to him, he added.

Sister Melia was highly spiritual and loved, the assistant minister at Muhammad Mosque No. 2 continued as the young woman’s mother, father, grandparents Minister Louis Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, grandmother Mother Evelyn Muhammad, her children and family members listened to the prayer service.

Among the flowers was a huge collection of white roses with a card from basketball great Shaquille O’Neal and among those who came to pay their respects were Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church, the Rev. Mitty Collier of More Like Christ Church, former Alderman Dorothy Tillman and Mayor Eric J. Kellogg of Harvey, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.

Melia was born June 23, 1977 and departed this life Nov. 5. In addition to her parents, she is survived by two children, daughter Nafiah and son Ilyas, brothers Joshua, Elijah, Louis, Fard and Muhammad Farrakhan, aunt Shalamar Muhammad, a host of family members and the Believers in the Nation of Islam. She attended Crete Monee High School in Crete, Ill., where she met her future husband and father of her children Rajah Brooks Farrakhan.

Photos: Haroon Rajaee

“To know Melia was to love her. She had a passion for life and love with a grand sense of humor. To be her friend was to have a genuine, loyal, confidante who always kept it real. She was a strong believer in the unity of family and her door was always open. She was a fierce soldier, warrior, deeply spiritual, and highly intelligent,” her obituary noted.

At Salaam restaurant, family and friends were able to enjoy the beauty of each other’s company, soft music and eat together. It was a very warm and loving environment, though some tears were shed over Melia’s loss and laughs were shared as memories of her were recounted.

Melia’s fondness for pranks was recited by her close family members as well as the youngest children who shared how she would lovingly tease them about eating children or hiding little ones in a closet.

Her loyalty and her class were attested to as longtime friends bore witness to how steadfast she would be and the class she exuded.

Shaheerah Farrakhan shared how she looked up to her cousin and called for the family to draw even closer. “I love all of you,” she said.

The most poignant remarks may have come from 9-year-old Messiah, as he paid tribute to his “Aunt Melia.” She can never leave us, he said, because we carry her in our hearts.

The Final Call