Melvin King, age 85, of Cornelia, passed away on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, due to acute respiratory distress syndrome following pneumonia.
Born on August 20, 1940, at home in Alto, he was the first son of the late Frank and Annie Mae King. Melvin was employed early in the Produce business with Piggly Wiggly and Colonial grocery stores. Later, he was worked with PYA Food Service for 26 years selling food to restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. He was the recipient of numerous awards for sales excellence. He won one award so many times that they eventually named the award after him. Following his retirement, he worked for several years with McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home. He has been a member of Cornelia Methodist Church, Baldwin Church of God, The Torch, and Tates Creek Baptist Church over his lifetime.
Melvin loved cars, especially the Mustangs he collected over the years. You may remember seeing him and Sue cruising around in the 1966 red convertible Mustang he had for many years. Attending car shows, he won many trophies for his Mustangs which he kept in perfect condition. I don’t think anyone had a car or truck as clean as the one Melvin King was driving. He enjoyed driving and for some time had a job, along with some of his buddies, picking up cars that were for sale and driving them to the destination of sale. Riding motorcycles with friends and family was also one of the joys in Melvin’s life.
Melvin was proud to be a veteran, having served in the Navy in San Diego, followed by years in the Navy Reserve.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Randy King, and his son-in-law, Tom Hamill.
Survivors include his wife, Sue King; daughter, Angie Hamill; nephew, Frank King (Misty); sister-in-law, Betsy King; sister-in-law, Shirlee Williams (Jarrell); brother-in-law, Leonard Maney (Jeanette); brother-in-law, Larry Maney (Jane); and many other nieces, nephews, extended relatives and numerous friends. Melvin valued his many friends whom he enjoyed spending time with.
Visitation will be from 1pm – 3pm, followed by a Memorial service at 3 pm on Sunday, November 9, 2025, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & McEntire, with Rev. Jerrell Beatty officiating. Please join us and tell your favorite Melvin story. The address is 175 VFW Road, Cornelia, Georgia 30531.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Habersham County Animal Shelter, 4231 Toccoa Highway, Clarkesville, Georgia 30523; phone, 706-839-0195; email, https://www.habershamga.com/animal-control.cfm
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandmcentire.com
McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
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