Award-Winning Farmington Parapro Roxanne Mecham Dies

Roxanne Mecham, beloved Farmington High bilingual paraprofessional and adviser for the school's Interact International club and Interact Earth green team, died Tuesday morning. The Farmington resident was 50 years old. 

Mecham was named Farmington Public Schools' Support Person of the Year in 2011, after being diagnosed with cancer in 2010. During the surprise ceremony, she said, "I'm grateful to be able to get up each day, and I'm motivated to come in and work with the people here. There's never a day when I'm not excited to be here."

Friend Kim Hodges, who nominated Mecham called her an inspiration: "You showed us what true courage and strength is."

According to an article in the district's Update newsletter, Mecham was first employed as a bilingual parapro in 2004 and worked at Harrison High for several years before her move to Farmington High. An active community volunteer, she also traveled to Japan on mission trips to teach Sunday school.

Mecham helped develop an award-winning mentoring program with the Gale Group, a local research and publishing company, which received the district's 2001-2002 Outstanding Partner in Education Award.

In November, Mecham was among 15 Farmington Public Schools teachers awarded grants through the Bosch Energy, Science and Technology (BEST) program. She and her students planned to use the money to grow an organic urban garden in cooperation with Cass Community Social Services and the Detroit Rescue Mission. 

Mecham is survived by her children, Mallory, Brett, and Stephanie; her mother, Louise Latham; her siblings, Karen Latham (Mark), Phillip Latham (Sue), Laura Wolford (Allan), Allen Latham (LeeAnn) and Julie Gunnell; many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Glenn Latham, and brother-in-law Tyler Gunnell. 

The family will receive guests at Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in Farmington on Thursday, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. A memorial service will be held Friday, 10:30 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 31450 Six Mile Rd., (west of Merriman Road), Livonia, with Bishop Brett Yates officiating.

Memorial gifts may be made to Buckets of Rain, P.O. Box 251, Empire, MI, 49630.