Melvin, Robert Alfred

Dr. Robert Alfred Melvin, who taught and served on the faculty of Mars Hill College for 38 years, died Thursday, November 25, 2010 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston Salem, NC. Born in Parkton , NC on January 13, 1931, he was the son of Leon and Vera Britt Melvin of St. Pauls , NC . His mother died when he was 5 years old, and he was raised by his “dear Aunt Lena”, Melvin Parnell, his father’s sister. He was a graduate of St. Pauls High School in 1949. That same year he enrolled at Mars Hill College , which was then a junior college. That was the beginning of 14 years of highly successful studies in higher education. In 1953 he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University in Waco , TX . From there he moved on to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest , NC where he earned Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees in 1957 and 1962. After completing the Th.M. he took a leave (1962-63) and studied at the University of Edinburgh before returning to Mars Hill. While he was enrolled at Baylor he felt called to the ministry, and after he graduated he was ordained and became pastor of Grove Park Baptist Church in Clinton, NC, a position he filled from 1954-1958. At that point an opening came that drew him to a new career, college professor. Mars hill invited him to join its faculty to teach history and religion. In 1963 the college expanded its program by creating a full-time position for a chaplain. Professor Melvin took the job but continued to teach in the religion department. During that double-duty assignment he took a one year leave to pursue studies at Vanderbilt University where he received the Doctor of Divinity degree in 1975. Five years later he left the chaplaincy at Mars Hill and assumed full-time teaching duties in the religion department. He continued in that position until 1997 when he retired from the school where he ha been enrolled as a student for two years and had taught for a total of 38 years. Dr. Melvin served as an interim pastor at many area Churches over the years. He spent the last twenty years of his his Ministry as the pastor of Cana River Baptist Church in Burnsville , NC . His varied duties and positions at Mars Hill had been filled with notable achievements and awards. He was honored in five major categories: chief speaker at the Founder’s Day Convocation in 1990, recipient of the Gibbs Distinguished Teacher citation in 1993, speaker (by request of the class) at the Senior Convocation at the beginning of the 1996-97 school year, holder of the Jefferson-Pilot Professorship in 1996-97, and recipient of an archival research fellowship named for him and long-time colleague and friend, Virginia Hart. Dr. Melvin was and excellent orator and was in great demand as a preacher and as a speaker at funerals and other ceremonies. He was also often sought to perform marriages and speak at other events. In a memorandum of thanks to Dr. Melvin for this address to a group of new students the academic dean of Mars Hill College said, “It was a superbly crafted and audience-sensitive address. I don’t know when I have seen a group of new students that attentive to a speaker or heard so many admiring and appreciative comments from faculty and staff.” In recommending his faculty colleague for a special honor, Dr. Noel Kinnamon said, “Bob Melvin combines knowledge with wisdom and rigorous thought with humorous insight.” He is survived by his wife, Ann Roberts Melvin of 48 years, two daughters, Vera Melvin Williamson and husband, Dr. Jeff Williamson along with their five children of Advance, NC and Laurie Melvin Halvorsen and husband, Mark Halvorsen and their four children of Kingsport, TN; one son, Bailey Melvin and wife, Cammie Godwin Melvin and their four children of Greenville, NC. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Harriett and Rachel Melvin, three brothers-in-law, Jim Roberts and wife Sue Ann, Mike Roberts and wife Nancy and Harold Mitchell. A graveside service was held for Dr. Melvin at 3pm Saturday, November 27, 2010 at the Philadelphus Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Red Springs , NC . There will also be a memorial service held at the Mars Hill Baptist Church at 2pm, Saturday, December 4, 2010 in Mars Hill , NC . Officiating the memorial service will be Reverend Alec Cort, Dr. Sue Fitzgerald, and Reverend Tommy Justice. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Hart Melvin Scholarship Fund in care of the Office of Institutional Advancement, Mars Hil College, Box 370, Mars Hill, NC 28754 .