Jeffrey Lynn Melton

JEFFREY “SUPERMAN” MELTON passed away on January 26, 2025 at the age of 66, after choosing to take mercy on cancer which had become exhausted from battling him for an extensive 13 months. Jeff spent his entire life earning his nickname and learned the importance of family and hard work from a very young age. He took his first job at the ripe, young age of 12 with Hopson Jones and filed his first tax return at the age of 15.

He enjoyed a 33-year career with Alabama Power and a 39-year marriage to his first wife, Melinda, with whom he gave life to two beautiful children. Dana, his daughter and mirror image of himself. And Jeremy, his son who grew up following in his father’s footsteps and a lineman still today. Jeff made a life for himself that, by all accounts, was a success both personally and professionally. He went on to make a name for himself as a business owner when he bought and rebranded the business we’ve all come to know and love today as Southern Dixie Auto Repair, Inc. Even with all the demands of business ownership to be managed, he did not shy away from the call to serve his community. With the heart of a lion which was often described as being even bigger than he was, he was always happy to lend his extra time and expertise serving on various boards aiding in community support and improvement efforts such as Clanton Kiwanis Club, the Chilton County Humane Society, and United Way.

He met his second wife, Ericka, with whom he shared an instant connection and later became a new father again to their daughter, Charlee Ann. They spent 6 years enjoying the life they’d made together and although their last year was certainly the hardest of all, they were both incredibly thankful for the opportunity to face each and every day of it by each other’s side. Jeff loved his business, his customers, and most of all, he loved his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He will be remembered not by the way his life ended, but by the way it was lived, with profound strength and courage.

Jeff is survived by: Wife, Ericka Smith-Melton; Daughter, Charlee Ann Smith; the mother of his children, Melinda Cleckler; Daughter, Dana (Derrick) Bone; son, Jeremy Melton; granddaughters, Addison Bone and Ally Bone; sisters, Wanda (Michael) Slaughter and Lola (Larry) Ellis; brother, Larry Melton; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by: His parents, Jewel and Wyonell Caton Melton; Grandparents, Lelard and Mattie Nix Melton and Sim and Etta Knight Caton.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 5:00pm from the Chapel of Ellison Memorial Funeral Home with Rev. Scott Gothard officiating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Pilots For Christ- Monroeville, AL chapter.

https://pages.lls.org/voy/al/bhmlls25/vwehby

Final care and arrangements entrusted to the Ellison Memorial Funeral Home of Clanton, AL.

www.EllisonMemorialFuneralHome.com