Former city councilman dies at 90

Published 6:47 am Wednesday, February 8, 2006

Former Meridian City Councilman James Heidel “Meck” Melton died Monday, and friends say he will be greatly missed.

He was 90.

Mr. Melton served on the city council from 1956 until 1972. He was first appointed to fill the seat of his father, James B. Melton, when he passed away. Melton’s father also served the city as vice mayor.

“We were friends from junior high school on,” said former Meridian Mayor Alfred Rosenbaum of “Meck” Melton. “He was a great athlete, and he was part of everything that was civic.”

Rosenbaum, who was elected mayor in 1977, said he never heard an unkind word spoken about Melton. Rosenbaum said he was saddened to hear of Melton’s passing. The two had lunch less than a month ago.

Funeral services for Melton will be held Friday at noon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, with visitation starting at 11 a.m.

Melton graduated from Meridian High School, where he excelled in sports. He was manager of the Meridian office of Biddle Purchasing Co. for more than 35 years.

He also served as longtime treasurer of the Downtown Optimist Club.

Jimmy Slay, Lauderdale County tax assessor and past president of the Downtown Optimist Club, said he remembers having weekly lunches with Melton at Weidmann’s in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Weidmann’s was the club’s meeting place.

“He was a very kind and considerate individual, and he served the people of Meridian in an official but also in an unofficial capacity as well,” Slay said.

Melton’s brother, William “Billy” Melton of Meridian, is a former member of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors.

Melton is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lillie Mae Moore Melton, and his children, Pamela Melton Fort of Meridian and Daniel Trueheart Melton of Lafayette, La.