Melvin Alden Addison

It is with heavy hearts
and profound sadness that
we announce the passing
of Melvin Alden Addison,
who peacefully departed
this world on the morning
of Aug. 12, 2025, just 18
hours after the passing of
Gladys Deaton Addison.
Their bond was forged
over 68 years, culminating
in their reunion at the ta-
ble of our Lord Jesus
Christ, where they now
rest in eternal peace to-
gether.
Born in Royston, Ga., to
William Doyle and Eva
Chitwood Addison on Aug.
15, 1938, Melvin was born
into a devout Christian
home. Melvin was blessed
with an extraordinary
close-knit relationship
with his parents, two sis-
ters (Euline Johnson and
Ophelia Fulbright) and
four brothers (Blant Addi-
son, Beck Addison,
Burchell Addison and Ar-
tis Addison), nurtured
through love, shared expe-
riences and unwavering
support. Their deep bond
was the cornerstone in his
life which shaped the
strong family values that
he carried throughout his
life. Melvin attended
Stephens County High
School, then began a 20
year career at Coats and
Clark on Rose Lane, in
Toccoa, Ga., where he met
and married Gladys
Deaton on July 27, 1957.
Together they built a
home based on love, laugh-
ter, kindness and work
ethic. His entrepreneur-
ship, savvy people skills
and work ethic served him
well throughout his em-
ployment career which
concluded in the Shuttle
Bobbin Department at
Coats and Clark on Rose
Lane in Toccoa, Ga.
Melvin and his wife
Gladys took the plunge
and started Melvin Addis-
on's Carpet Cleaners in
1969 and later purchased
the Wigwam Drive-In in
Toccoa. The Wigwam was
his flagship moment.
Melvin was a self-
taught salesman with nat-
ural gift for connecting
with people. He built his
success not from formal
training but from an in-
nate understanding of oth-
ers. His warmth, sincerity
and easy humor made
friends of customers and
customers of friends, leav-
ing a legacy of relation-
ships that will always ref-
erence him as a good and
caring person. He enjoyed
discovering and selling
items that provided value
to people and local busi-
nesses. Singing was anoth-
er passion that he enjoyed
since his youth. He was al-
ways singing Southern
Gospel and country music.
He routinely sang at
churches and religiously
sang at all of the karaoke
watering holes in the area.
In the early 2000's he cut a
gospel CD and continued
to share his music with all
ages.
In his golden years he
could be found spending
the mornings enjoying
breakfast with his sisters
and others at local restau-
rants, stopping by Wal-
Mart to visit with the reg-
ulars and occasionally
sharing his bum knee re-
placement to those that he
encountered. He loved
Lake Hartwell and the
boat traffic that the sum-
mer brought. He was al-
ways on his porch watch-
ing the lake activity and
keeping track of the new
boats on the water each
year. He was a supporting
father, grandfather and
great grandfather. He was
never satisfied staying
near home, he always
wanted to be around peo-
ple. He poured his heart
into his work and expected
his two children to set
their goals high and to uti-
lize their talent, intelli-
gence, intellect and work
ethic to achieve their
goals. He loved his grand-
children and great- grand-
children and loved visit-
ing and sharing meals and
time with his family.
Melvin is survived by
his children, Eddie Melvin
Addison (Renae), Martin
Ga., Lisa Renee Mote (Bil-
ly), Toccoa, Ga.; grandchil-
dren, Eddie Melvin Addi-
son, II (Katie), Toccoa, Ga.,
Hunter Gaston Addison
(Joanna), Commerce, Ga.,
Alexandra Lee Wyatt
(Matthew), Eastanollee,
Ga., Emily Regan Mote,
Toccoa Ga.; great-grand-
children, Rhett Hunter
Addison, Myles Alexander
Addison, Blakely Helen
Wyatt; two sisters, Euline
Johnson and Ophelia Ful-
bright both of Toccoa.
Melvin was spiritually
prepared for his journey
onward to meet his Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ,
finding peace in faith and
leaving behind a legacy of
love, strength and cher-
ished family memories.
Though we are heartbro-
ken, we must release him
from this life, in order for
him to begin his eternal
journey. We find comfort
in the enduring love and
memories that will forever
echo in our hearts and so-
lace in knowing that his
spirit was ready for the
journey.
Funeral services were
held Friday, Aug. 15, 2025,
2 p.m. in the Hillcrest
Chapel of Acree Davis Fu-
neral Home with the Rev.
Jerrell Beatty and the Rev.
Chad Smith officiating.
Eddie Addison will be
sharing cherished family
stories, celebrating the en-
during love and connec-
tion that defined the life of
Melvin Alden Addison.
The following gentlemen
will serve as pallbearers,
Clayton Rider, Leon Rider,
Steve Johnson, Eddie Ad-
dison, II, Hunter Addison
and Mark Addison.
The family received
friends at the Acree-Davis
Funeral Home on Thurs-
day, from 5-7 p.m. and on
Friday from 12 p.m. until
the service time. Online
condolences may be left
for the family www.acree-
davisfh.com.
Interment followed in
the Stephens Memorial
Gardens with the Acree-
Davis Funeral Home and
Crematory in charge of the
arrangements for Melvin
Alden Addison.