Mrs. Nellie Melba Chinnici, 79 passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2022, at the Suwannee Valley Care Center (Haven Hospice) Lake City, FL; after an extended illness. Nellie was known by friends and relatives as "Sissie" or "Nell." She was born in Miami, Florida on April 5, 1943, to the late Earl M. Compton and Sylvia E. Sims. She is survived by her husband of fifty-three years, Donald Chinnici and they moved and resided in Lake City in June of 1982.

Mrs. Chinnici is survived by her sons, Paul T. Buyama, Jr. and Earl Chinnici; her daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Buyama whom were all born and raised in Miami, Florida, and all currently residing in Lake City. She leaves behind her brother, David Compton of Lake City; two grandchildren, Michael Paul Antunovic and Paola Buyama. Also surviving are her first cousins Shirley Bryne, Sonya "Viki" Tice, Tess (Duffy) Soto, Gerri (Charles "Sonny") Clark, and Danny Sims, Sr. She leaves behind many other special friends and family and especially her customers.

Mrs. Chinnici was well-known for her love of plants and cats. She began her plant nursery business in Miami, Florida back in the early 1960s, when her father "Red" Compton gave her a small portion of his nursery to grow and sell tropical plants. While raising her children in the nursery business, it continued to grow and thrive until she moved to Lake City in 1982. Around 1985, she re-established her plant nursery called Chinnici Nursery and she enjoyed planting and gardening endlessly.

Funeral services for Mrs. Nellie Melba Chinnici will be conducted Monday, October 24, 2022, at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home. The family will receive friends an hour prior to service time. Internment will follow at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. In Lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center 6037 US Hwy 90 West Lake City, FL 32025.