Melvin was born on March 20th, 1952, in Highland, Illinois. His younger years were spent in the Highland area close to family and it was there at Bethany Baptist Church that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior on November 29th, 1960. (this was recorded in his mother's Bible) They came to the Greenville area in the early 70's and remained here until his death. As his health declined, he never forgot who his Savior was.