Julius W. Melton,'s Obituary
Rev. Dr. Julius Wemyss Melton, Jr., age 84, of The Pines at Davidson, died Monday, November 20, 2017.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, December 1 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in Jetton Hall.
The son of the late Julius Wemyss Melton, Sr. and Jane Williams Melton, he was born September 25, 1933. He grew up in Jackson and Clinton, MS, and graduated from Mississippi College. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Union Theological Seminary inRichmond, VA, where he also served one year as “Teaching Fellow and Instructor in Greek.” It was there he met the love of his life, Ann Engle Kennedy, whom he married in 1959. Julius was awarded a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellowship for a year of study in Geneva, Switzerland. The couple enjoyed their first year of married life together in Switzerland, both enrolled in the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies, jointly sponsored by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Geneva, and the World Council of Churches, and based in the ancient Chateau de Bossey - a life-molding experience. Julius then earned his PhD in religion from Princeton University. He is the author of the book “Presbyterian Worship in America”.
During his active career Julius was frequently involved in teaching, preaching, and leading worship in regional Presbyterian churches. He taught for 10 years at Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College) and served in the administration as head of the division of Student Affairs. During this period he spent a good bit of time trying to find more money for the students. It was natural for him to move into college fundraising after having been involved on the front lines and seeing the good which those funds can do - and the desperate need for them.
In 1973 Julius and Ann moved their family to Davidson, NC, where Julius joined the office of planned giving at Davidson College. He joined Mecklenburg Presbytery, serving a term as its moderator, as well as terms as chair of committees and member of boards of institutions related to the presbytery. He served as commissioner to his denomination’s General Assembly. At Davidson College Presbyterian Church he invested much interest and energy in the committee that worked toward establishing the columbarium. Nearing retirement, he worked with the Endowment Committee of Myers Park Presbyterian Church.
A principal community involvement was his membership in the Charlotte Rotary Club, especially his work for a number of years as its principal contact with young people seeking the opportunities he had enjoyed as a Rotary Fellow, a role in which he helped some 20 achieve that same goal. He retired from Davidson College in 1989. He and Ann enjoyed traveling, family history research, singing in the church choir, and rejoicing in their children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Ann, two daughters, Cambria Nielsen (Jeffrey), Catherine Dockery (Frederic), son William Dudley Melton (Allison) and 6 grandchildren: Daniel and Andrew Nielsen; Carlisle, Evan, and Emma Dockery; and Josiah Melton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Julius W. and Ann K. Melton Scholarship Fund at Davidson College (Davidson College, College Relations, PO Box 7170, Davidson, NC 28035) or to the Resident Support Fund at The Pines at Davidson (400 Avinger Lane, Davidson, NC 28036).
James Funeral Home is serving the family. Condolences may be sent through our website at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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