James E. Melton, Jr.

January 16, 1943 - March 13, 2022

The funeral service for James E. Melton, Jr. 79, of Columbia will be held Thursday, March 17, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Greenlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. The Reverend Dr. Mark Bredholt will officiate. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, from 5:00 pm.-7:00 p.m. at Temples Halloran Funeral Home. Mr. Melton was born January 16, 1943, and passed away March 13, 2022, at Rice Estates. He was the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. James E. Melton, Sr. He was born in Mooresville, NC. James served his country in the US Army following his service to our country, he worked on turbochargers at Garrett A.F.B. in California. He also had a talent for drawing where he worked for the Hanna-Barbera Company where he drew cartoon characters. In the later 1960’s they moved back to the Columbia area where he owned and operated his own landscaping company. James and his wife were members of Temple Baptist Church in the southeast Columbia area. Survivors include his daughters, Candace Melton of Newnan, GA, and Lisa Cummins (Maurice) of Lugoff, SC; sons, James E. Melton, III (Vicki) of Lexington, SC, and Antonio Laverne Melton of Chapin, SC; sister, Janie Kirby of Clover, SC; brothers, Robert Melton, and Tommy Melton of Clover, SC; along with 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. James was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Ruth Melton as well as brothers, Phillip, Stevie, and Billy Melton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or donate online.