John Marshall Melvin, a well-respected attorney and name partner with Stewart, Melvin & Frost, passed away on June 9, 2019.

Mr. Melvin retired in 2009 after a distinguished career in real estate law that spanned over 40 years. His law career was just one part of his presence in the community. He performed in local theater productions and was especially known for his role of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in the musical “Annie.”

He was a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville, where he taught Sunday School and sang for over 40 years in the Chancel Choir.

Mr. Melvin was very involved in civic service through Rotary International. He was known statewide for his support of the Georgia Rotary Student program and as a dedicated member of the Gainesville Rotary Club. During his service as president in 1988-89, the Gainesville civic organization was recognized as Club of the Year for Rotary District 6910. He later was honored as Gainesville Rotary’s Man of the Year in 1999.

Born in Baltimore, Mr. Melvin grew up in nearby Jefferson and attended Jefferson High School where he was a member of the school band. A trumpet player, he eventually marched with the University of Georgia’s famed Dixie Redcoat Band during his college years.

Mr. Melvin received a finance degree at UGA in 1962 and, three years later, graduated from the UGA School of Law. He served in the Air Force with the Judge Advocates office in South Dakota before his discharge in 1968 at the rank of captain. That same year, he joined Telford, Wayne & Stewart in Gainesville – which eventually added Mr. Melvin’s name to become Stewart, Melvin & Frost — and spent his entire legal career here.

Mr. Melvin and his wife, Mary Louise Greer Melvin, were married for nearly 55 years. They have a daughter, Meredith Melvin Weaver, and son, John Marshall Melvin, Jr., and three grandchildren.