Melva Porter Has Faced Several Losses in Her Life - Facts about Tyler Perry's Sister

After her mother welcomed her at a young age, Melva Porter had a difficult life in an abusive home. Her famous brother announced that he forgave the man who abused him and his siblings, and over the years, Melva Porter married and had a family of her own. However, that sadly ended in tragedy.

Melva is one of two older sisters in a family of four children. She grew up in a religious home, and her brother revealed that her mother, Willie Maxine Campbell Perry, would often say Jesus was their rock. Following her brother's fame, the actor, producer, and writer revealed the horrors he, his siblings, and their mother endured at the hands of their father.

While her brother admitted to forgiving his dad, Melva also moved on and married her late husband, Gary Wayne Porter Sr. The couple welcomed four children during their marriage; however, by 2020, Melva had lost her mother, husband, and son.

Melva Porter's Mother Gave Birth to Her at a Very Young Age

Before Tyler was born, his mother gave birth to Melva and his other older sister at 18 and 19. Melva was born into an abusive home that remained abusive even after Tyler and her other younger brother, Emmbre Perry, were born.

Despite the trauma they experienced, Melva's brother revealed that he had found it in his heart to forgive the man he grew up knowing as his biological father but later learned he was not. During an interview in 2017, Melva's brother said:

"He had a lot of issues. But the thing that helped me get over it and still take care of him today is I took a moment to find out more about him and his childhood and where he came from, and his was way more horrific than mine. So it kind of formed the person that he was."

While Melva's brother could still take care of their father figure in 2017, they suffered the loss of their mother, who passed away on December 8, 2009. Originally from Amite and a longtime resident of New Orleans and Greensburg, Willie was survived by her children, grandchildren, and other relatives.

Melva Has Lost Two Loved Ones in the Last 10 Years

Melva and her late husband were parents to their four children Garry Wayne Porter Jr., Gavin Ryanell Porter, Precious Ann Robinson, and La'Kiya Ja'Nae Knighten.

In 2020, Melva's brother took to Instagram and shared that her son Garry had killed his father and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. Following her husband's passing, Melva's son died while serving his sentence.

After his passing, there was doubt about the cause of the death of Melva's son. As a result, her family sought a second opinion from a medical professional. In 2020, Melva's famous brother shared an update that Melva's son had died by suicide. Tyler said:

"The answers don't take away grief, but it surely gives room for grieving to take its course."

Melva Porter Works in Education

Melva is a Teaching Assistant at St. Helena Early Learning Center in Greensburg, Los Angeles. The learning center is a public school located in a distant rural setting in Los Angeles.

It has a large minority student enrollment and provides an education for economically disadvantaged students. Outside of her occupation, little is known about Melva as she has led a private life out of the public eye despite her brother's fame.

On the other hand, her second brother followed in Tyler Perry's footsteps and pursued a career in the entertainment industry. Like his brother, Emmbre is a man of many trades and has multiple acting and directing credits to his name.

He is commonly known for his roles in "No More Games" in 2012, his brother's "Madea's Family Reunion" in 2006, and "Every Family Has Problems" in 2015.