Henry Dallas Melton

At his passing the following tributes were printed in The Dothan Eagle and The Alabama Baptist:

IN MEMORIAM

On February 13, 1917, God in His infinite wisdom, saw fit to take unto Himself our beloved friend, H. Dallas Melton. He was born January 30, 1853, in Elmore County* and spent the greater part of his life there. He moved to Houston County December 1906. He married Miss Mary Elizabeth Mc Inish, January 8, 1893 and to them God gave a noble family of children. The surviving members of his family are his widow, six sons and three daughters, God having already taken the two youngest children to welcome their father home. Thus closed a beautiful, earthly life. Like the lowly Nazarene whom he so much resembled in his walk and conversation, he grew and continued to grow to the very last “in favor with God and man.” His name was a synonym for honor and integrity. His life was golden with fruitage of duties well performed. Through years of intimate friendship with him the writer never heard an unchaste word from his lips or knew him to soil his hands with a questionable business deal. Men in distress and beset with adversities were drawn to him, and with his great loving soul he gave the helping hand. The volume of his usefulness is still open and unfinished. His influence for good as passed from heart to heart and from soul to soul will stand when marble monuments have crumbled into dust.
A precious one from us has gone, A voice we loved is still; A place is vacant in the home, Which never can be filled. God in His wisdom has recalled, The boon His love had given, And though the body slumbers here, The soul is safe in Heaven.

--E. J. Whiddon.

• [Elmore County was formed in 1866; our grandfather was born in that part of Elmore formerly Tallapoosa].

RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT

We can truly say as has been said, another of God’s noblemen has gone to his reward. To offer these resolutions is a sad yet sweet and sacred duty, but we feel that our words do not express the loss we realize we have sustained. Brother H. D. Melton’s life reflected something of the life of that Saviour whom he so faithfully served. He was gentle, kind and faithful and ever ready with heart and hand to help in a good cause. We thank our Heavenly Father for this useful life of 64 years and bow in humble submission to His will. Therefore, Be It resolved, That Houston County has lost one of her very best citizens. 2. That Smyrna Baptist Church has lost one of her best members whose wise counsel and leadership is no more except in the influence he has left behind. 3. That we extend to the bereaved family and relatives our deepest sympathy in their great sorrow and loneliness. 4. That these resolutions be printed in the Alabama Baptist and the Dothan Eagle and a copy put in our minutes and a copy sent to the bereaved family. E. J. Whiddon, W. T. Cannon and J. H. Bradshaw, Committee Read and confirmed in conference March 11-[19]17. W. O. MAMS, Mod. W. T. CANNON, C. C.

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