Melanie L. Hood, lawyer and Army vet, dies at 49

Melanie L. Hood, a Philadelphian who decided to get out of the city after her older brother and a friend were killed, got a law degree and went to San Antonio, Texas, to practice law, died Nov. 8 of cancer. She was 49.

She was a veteran of Army intelligence and attained the rank of captain.

Her older brother, Winston C. Hood, was shot to death by a police officer on July 10, 1978, after a dispute outside a bar. The shooting set off demonstrations against police brutality, but the officer was never charged.

Melanie was born in Philadelphia to Winston Hood and the former Audrey Reddy. She graduated from Roxborough High School. After her brother and a friend were killed, she left town and attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

In college, she was active in minority affairs, ROTC, the college newspaper, karate and canoeing. After college, she joined the Army.

After her discharge, she moved to San Antonio and received a law degree from St. Mary's School of law. She served as an assistant district attorney in San Antonio for a time before opening her own practice. When she became ill, she returned to Philadelphia.

She is survived by her mother; two brothers, Curtis and Wayne, and two sisters, Kim Ravnell and Lisha Anthony. She also was predeceased by another sister, Sharon R. Hood.

Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at the West Oak Lane Church of God, 7401 Limekiln Pike. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Washington Crossing National Cemetery.