Melvin Knight, Jr.
December 5, 1927 – March 30, 2017
Funeral services for Melvin Knight, Jr., 89, of Whigham, GA, are at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Union Springs Baptist Church, Whigham, GA. Rev. Carl Harrell and Rev. James Knight will officiate. Interment will be in Union Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, Whigham, GA. Mr. Knight passed away at his home in Whigham, GA, early Thursday morning on March 30, 2017.
Active pallbearers will be Mark Whigham, Ashley Knight, Stanley Elkins, Eric Cohen, Mark Childree and Stacey Croy. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Union Springs Baptist Church, and the Farm Bureau Directors and Staff.
Mr. Knight was born on December 5, 1927, in Grady County, GA, to the late Melvin Knight, Sr. and Lucille Maxwell Knight. On November 15, 1953, he married Helen Elkins Knight, who survives. He lived a distinguished life with a strong commitment to family, church and community. He joined Union Springs Baptist Church on July 4, 1944, at the age of seventeen and was ordained as Deacon at the age of twenty-nine. He was a Sunday School Teacher for fifty-two years. Mr. Knight served as Secretary-Treasurer for seven years with the Grady County Baptist Associational Brotherhood and was the Grady County Baptist Associational Clerk for thirty-two years. He was a lifetime member of the Whigham Masonic Lodge. The main focus of his community work was serving as President of Grady County Farm Bureau 1980-2010. He has been involved in farming since high school and was selected Farm Family of the Year in 1980 by the Grady County Chamber of Commerce. His consistent leadership and hard work have been an inspiration to many. His gentle spirit and laughter will be missed often but never forgotten.
Survivors include: his wife of 63 years, Helen Elkins Knight of Whigham, GA; his son, Julian B. Knight (June) of Whigham, GA; two daughters, Cynthia K. Vickers (Shaw) of Whigham, GA, Beverly C. Knight (Linda McCrae) of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren, Carla Pearce (Richard) of Cairo, GA, Jay Knight (Kerri) of Thomasville, GA, Kelly Parramore (Maurice) of Ochlocknee, GA, Casey Vickers of Whigham, GA, Isaac McCrae of Indianapolis, IN, April Hester (John) of Cairo, GA; great-grandchildren; Erin, Sara and Ryan Pearce of Cairo, GA, Caroline, Samantha and Piper Knight of Thomasville, GA, Miller Parramore of Ochlocknee, GA, Tanner Starr of Cairo, GA; a brother, Winburn Knight (Doris) of Whigham, GA; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; and a sister, Christine Knight Whigham.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Knight’s memory to: Union Springs Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 355 Union Springs Road, Whigham, GA 39897.
The family will receive friends at Clark Funeral Home on Friday, March 31, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
