Dr. Melody Bruce Musgrove of Madison, MS, recently retired professor at the University of Mississippi School of Education passed away peacefully on September 27, 2021, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, following a valiant fight against leukemia. Melody was born on June 9, 1960 in Clarksdale, Mississippi and grew up in Mendenhall, Mississippi graduating from Mendenhall High School in 1976.
Melody’s career in education was marked by great accomplishment, being known for her meticulous attention to detail and her professionalism. She began as a classroom special education teacher and furthered her own education receiving her Masters and Doctorate degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi. Melody rose to the position of Assistant Principal of Mullens Elementary School in Brookhaven, MS, and Assistant Superintendent of Lawrence County Schools. While serving as Assistant Superintendent, Melody was named the Director of Special Education for Mississippi.
Melody initially met her husband Ronnie Musgrove in 2004 while working with the Mississippi Department of Education. They reconnected in 2005 with Ronnie’s efforts to “officially” welcome Melody to Madison, MS. It was only because of Melody’s pure-bred Boxer, Rascal’s approval of Ronnie that they were able to develop a dating and ultimately a lasting relationship. On August 4, 2007, Melody married David Ronald (Ronnie) Musgrove, the 62nd Governor of Mississippi at Smith Lake, with family there to support their union.
After six years as Director of Special Education, Melody became an advisor and policy consultant to LRP Publications, one of the foremost Special Education Publishers in the country. One of the true highlights of her career came in 2010, when Melody accepted a Presidential Appointment as the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs for the U.S. Department of Education. While serving as Director, Melody led the transformation of the direction of Special Education in our country. She was the second longest serving Director in the history of the office of OSEP. During this six-year appointment, Melody and Ronnie split their time between Washington, DC and Madison, MS.
Upon retiring from OSEP and focusing on raising their son Grayson with Ronnie, Ole Miss called on Melody to teach Special Education in the School of Education and to become the Co-Director of the Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning with Cathy Grace. Melody always recognized the fact that she was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with and be a part of the most professional groups of people and organizations she could have ever imagined. Melody had a deep friendship with her colleagues whom she admired and loved so much.
Melody loved to travel and enjoy new experiences. While living in Washington DC, she and Ronnie would regularly take the Amtrak to New York and spend the weekend enjoying three or four Broadway plays. Melody loved the sites and Museums of Washington DC and New York, and was a class cook, who loved the experience of fine dining and fine wine. She was profoundly impacted by her trip to Israel and how its history took on a completely different meaning from our young country. One of Melody’s favorite movies was “The Sound of Music” and when Ronnie and Melody took Grayson to Austria she felt like it was the most beautiful place on earth. Grayson was not too pleased having to trapse around Salzburg wearing lederhosen, which Melody adored.
One of Melody’s favorite places to spend time as a family was Smith Lake, Alabama. She loved the water, the pontoon boat and sitting by the fireplace on the deck in the fall. She enjoyed listening to music, reading, working cross word puzzles and watching Grayson play for hours.
Melody and her family were active members of Parkway Hills United Methodist in Madison, MS. Melody was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. She was predeceased by her father and mother, Maxie Bruce, Sr. and Sarah Conerly Bruce and her daughter Amanda Erin Smith. Those left to cherish her memory are her Husband, Ronnie Musgrove and her sons, Grayson Smith Musgrove and Michael Smith (Maggie), her brother Maxie (Mac) Bruce, Jr., and her two step-children Jordan David Musgrove (Joely) and Carmen Rae Musgrove Huang (Ian). She is also survived by five precious grandchildren, Evelyn & John Paul Smith, Ethan & Harrison Huang, and Charles Musgrove along with her rescue dog Noah.
Melody leaves behind a legacy of grace, class and dignity as a person who worked tirelessly to create an education system that provided opportunity and equality for every child in Mississippi and the United States.
If you would like to make a gift in memory of Melody, we ask that you consider any of her supported organizations or the educational institutions listed below.
Copiah-Lincoln Community College - Sarah Conerly Bruce Endowed Scholarship. Gifts can be made to this scholarship through the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation online at Give Now - Copiah-Lincoln Community College (colin.edu)
Northwest Community College - Ronnie and Melody Musgrove Endowment. Gifts can be made to the Northwest Community College Foundation online at Foundation - Northwest Mississippi Community College (northwestms.edu)
The University of Mississippi - The Musgrove Educator Scholarship Endowment. Gifts can be made to the University of Mississippi Foundation online at www.umfoundation.com/makeagift.
The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi https://msdiabetes.org/, MadCAAP https://madcaap.org, Magnolia Speech School Online Donation Form - Magnolia Speech School and the Jackson Symphony League, https://msorchestra.com.
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