James Edward Melton Jr.

Mr. James Edward Melton, Sr transitioned to his heavenly home on September 1st, at Atrium Mercy Health. He was born in Morven, NC on November 22nd, 1946, to the late Julius and Sallie Melton. He was a graduate of Henry Grove High School. He moved to Winston-Salem, NC in 1966 where he was employed by R.J. Reynolds, Inc. In 1968, he relocated to Charlotte, NC., where he was employed by Thurston Motor Lines. He then went on to work for Yellow Freight Trucking as a freight mechanic, retiring after 25 years of service. He loved hunting and fishing and would often go on deep sea fishing adventures with friends and family. He loved hunting and would often hunt and prepare his catch of deer, squirrel, possum, and rabbit. He was an amazing cook, delighting his family with frying fish in the back yard in a black wash pot, or creating a rabbit stew. He often demonstrated the love that he learned from his parents and siblings, in helping anyone that he could. He would open his home to family, hosting events, gatherings, and mini-family reunions. Though quiet and reserved, he had a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh. He was the youngest of 13 siblings who were extraordinarily close. His seven brothers, J.C., L.C. Eddie, Raymond, Welton, Floyd, Lee, and his five sisters, Rosemary, Carrie, Pauline, Elois, and Johnsie, gave their children a sense of family, belonging, and profound love. You would often find those siblings together with their children, nieces, nephews, and cousins enjoying food, laughter, and the presence of family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son James Melton, Jr., seven brothers and five sisters. Left to cherish his memories are his wife, of 27 years, Tanya Melton, three daughters, Demetria A. Melton (Charlotte), Gino Meeks (Winston-Salem),and Gavet (Dana) Smallwood, Winston-Salem, two stepsons, Quintin McCleave (Mitzi) of Stone Mountain, Ga; Markeith (Demetria) Oliver of Gastonia, one step-daughter, Tiffany Oliver of Charlotte; two grandsons, three granddaughters, six great-grandchildren, in-law, Demetria Taylor-Melton of Charlotte, one brother-in-law, Anthony Oliver of Charlotte, two sisters-in-law, Janie Melton and Loretta Shipp of Charlotte, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

James Edward Melton Jr.

November 22, 1946 - September 1, 2026