Melba Kennerly amble peacefully accepted her wings at Providence Hospital. Washington, DC on Wednesday, August 30. 2017. Melba was born and attended public schools in Orangeburg, South Carolina. After graduating high school, she attended Claflin College where she would meet her future husband who attended South Carolina State University.She came to Washington,DC at the age of nineteen and took care of children while living with her mother and step father Alice Glover Gray and Chester Gray on Lamont Street, NW. After WWII, she married James Edward Gamble, Sr. and started a family. Their union was blessed with three children and their hearts opened to two more. Melba worked outside of the home for a brief period but would later find her fulfillment in becoming a care giver for neighborhood children. With the blessing of her her husband she cared for children in her home for thirty seven years while raising three children and later adopting two more. She was so well known for her love and compassion while caring for children that she would often have women come by while they were pregnant and ask her to save their babies space when they were born. Never chargung more than $40 a week or charging for food which included breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner (when the parents were late). Melba cared for children ranging in age from infancy through sixth grade stopping only when her health began to decline. Melba was known in the Trinidad neighborhood for sitting on the front porch in her favorite chair and when neighbors would inquire about her health they would always recall that "I remember your mom sitting on the front porch in her chair watching over the block". Mrs. Gamble leaves to celebrate her life her children; James E. Gamble, Jr. (Geraldine) - William Kenneth Gamble(Arlita) _Deborah Gamble Clark- William O'Brien Jackson (Monique) -Renee Starnes. She also leaves cherished memories to her sixteen grandchildren, twenty two great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and one on the way."BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN< FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED." MATH+THEWS 5:4