James A Melvin Jr.

James Alex Melvin, Jr., son of the late Alberta and James A. Melvin, Sr., was born on April 13, 1931 in Godwin, NC. He departed this life peacefully on March 13, 2014 at home. He was 82. He attended Paul Lawrence Dunbar School in Laurel, DE and later served in the U.S. Army. He was a faithful member of St. Matthews 1st Baptist Church in Laurel, DE, under the leadership of Pastor, Bishop Nathan McCoy. He was also a member of Rising Sun Lodge #4 in Milton, DE. James, affectionately called “Dad:, “Pop-Pop”, “Uncle Melvin” and “Melvin,” was a hard worker and worked up until his health failed. He worked for Paramount Poultry, Earth Movers Company in Seaford, DE, a manufactured homes company, Perdue Farms, Inc., Chrysler Motors in Newark, DE for 21 years and various landscaping jobs. He also owned and operated the former ‘Double D’ Tavern in Georgetown, DE for 10 years. He enjoyed being with his family and friends, gardening, stock car racing, crabbing, watching sports (especially football) on TV and family cookouts. In 1957, he met the love of his life, Marie Marshall. They were married on March 23, 1959 and had six children: Melvin, Inez, Barbara, Lena, Darrell and Alvata. They also have an adopted daughter, Wanda Kaye Peterson. He loved his family very much and was a loving, devoted father and grandfather. He was well-liked and respected by many people and was like a father to many children around Georgetown, DE. He was always willing to listen to you and would tell you the truth-straight up! He always taught us to love, obey and respect our parents and to never call them by their first names. He was a man of few words but was always serious! He was preceded in death by his parents, Alberta and James A. Melvin, Sr.; a son-in-law, James Ingram, Jr.; and nephew whom he raised, Maurice Cannon. James leaves to cherish his precious memories his loving and devoted wife, Marie; six children, Inez Dennis of Baltimore, MD, Melvin (Vita) Jones of Millsboro, DE, Barbara Ingram and Lena (Andy) Lasalle of Dover, DE, Darrell (Debbie) Melvin of Georgetown, DE and Alvata Melvin of Desota, TX; an adopted daughter, Wanda Kaye (Jimmy) Peterson; a god-daughter, Angelance (Harry) Benson; three nephews and one niece he raised as his own, Paul, Douglas, Charles and Mary Cannon; two adopted sons, Brodus Mason and Curtis Simms; one brother, Lester McKethan of Wakefield, VA; two twin sisters, Charlene Coppage and Marlene Macklin of New York; a sister-in-law, Lizzie Cannon; three aunts and three uncles of North Carolina; 21 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James A Melvin Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

James A Melvin Jr.

April 13, 1931 - March 13, 2014