Melinda Lara

Melinda Lara, age 49, of Grand Rapids, passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2020. She was born on March 7, 1971, in Grand Rapids to Leandro and Rose (Garza) Lara. Melinda, known better as "Nana", was a caring woman who always wanted to help. She was also a big influence in the hip hop community. When hip hop started to fade, she brought it back by promoting, networking and putting together shows for local artists. She created raps around You Magazine. Nana had her mother's heart and her father's toughness, which is what made her so remarkable. She was creative, magnetic, strong, poetic, a go-getter, inspiring in the music industry, very blunt and most of all she loved her family. She had an immeasurable amount of strength and she raised her kids as a single mother and did the best she could. Nana and her family went through a lot of things together: struggle, heartache, laughs and wonderful memories but that's what life is about. Balance: taking the good with the bad. Nana will be remembered by so many and each person is thankful to have had her in their lives. Nana is survived by her father Leandro Lara; partner Richard Koon; brother Jesus Lara, her two children Angel Lara and Dominique "Neka" Gray and her five grandchildren Antonio, Analysse, Aliyana, Laila and Giovanni. She is preceded in death by her Mother Rose. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melinda Lara, please visit our flower store.