Obituary of John William Melton, Jr.

Funeral services for John William Melton, Jr., age 28 of Newell will be held on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at 2:00 PM at Mt. Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Donald Spradlin and Rev. Josh Kennedy officiating.  Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 PM on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.  Mr. Melton will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning on Thursday.

Mr. Melton passed away Monday, July 9, 2018, at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Wanda Vowell Smith and Bradley Smith of Newell; father and stepmother, John and Patrice Melton of Wadley; paternal grandmother, Chera Melton of Wadley; sister, Kimberly Harmon of Heflin; stepsister, Tiffani Taylor of Wadley; stepbrother, Brian Robinson of Roanoke; his fiancé, Kelly Wilson of Wedowee; two stepdaughters, Lily Wilson and Isabella Wilson, both of Wedowee; one stepson, Kaelan Wilson of Wedowee; and step-grandparents, Frances Turner and Tommy Smith.

Pallbearers will be Charlie Messer, Mac Herren, J. C. Lovvorn, Nick Kimbrell, Tony Brown, and Brian Robinson.  Honorary pallbearer will be Edward Whaley.

A lifelong Randolph County resident, Mr. Melton was born in Ashland on April 23, 1990, the son of John William Melton Sr., and Wanda Diane Vowell Smith.  He was Baptist by faith and worked as a tree surgeon for W. A. Kendall.  Mr. Melton was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Lommie and Mattie Will Vowell and his paternal grandfather, Carl Melton.