Melanie Ann Harden

On July 13, 2021, Melanie Ann Harden left this earth for a better place. Melanie was a Florida Native and Lakelander in the truest sense of the word. Her family moved to North Florida from South Carolina in 1835, almost 10 years before Florida became a state. Melanie’s paternal grandparents moved to Lakeland in the 1920’s. Her father, Claude M. (Mac), Harden Jr., was born in McAlpin, Florida during the Christmas holidays in 1933, but he lived in Lakeland the vast majority of his life. Melanie’s maternal grandparents were natives of Bartow, Florida, and her mother, Nancy E. Sawyer, was born at Lakeland General Hospital in 1935. Melanie was born in Lakeland on September 9, 1964, and with the exception of a brief stint in Hawaii, lived in Lakeland all of her life. Melanie attended Carlton Palmore Elementary School and Southwest Junior High School. She ultimately graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1982. Following high school, Melanie enrolled in college at Florida Southern College. While at Florida Southern, she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. Melanie obtained her bachelor’s degree in education and went on to teach for the Polk County Public Schools. Melanie taught history and government at Traviss Vocational Institute for over 20 years. She loved her career, and her passion for teaching touched the lives of thousands of students. When she wasn’t teaching, Melanie donated her time to the Junior League of Lakeland. Melanie is survived by her significant other, Doy Scott, her mother, Nancy E. Sawyer, brothers, Trey Harden, (Terri), Pete Sawyer, (Carol), John Sawyer, (Stephanie), Gary Sawyer, (Beth), Aunt Catherine and countless cousins, nieces and nephews. A service will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church on Lake Morton in Lakeland, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.