The son of the late James Merritt and Emma Henry Morrow, 1SG Merritt was born in Palmetto, GA. He was a twenty year Vietnam Veteran of the U. S. Army. He received his Associate degree from CVCC and Bachelors degree from Troy State University. He also received an Certificate of Theology from the Interdemoninational Theological Center in Atlanta for which he obtained his Exhorter's License of the Christian Episcopal Church. He served twenty-three years as a Senior ROTC Instructor for the Russell County School System. He was a member of Holsey Chapel CME Church where he served as a Steward, with the Lay Council, chairman and treasurer of the Trustee Board, and taught the Men's Bible Class, Noon Day Bible Study, Sunday School and Children's Catechism. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Merritt, and two siblings, Gaither Merritt and Billie Lovett.

Survivors include: three sons, Karl L. Merritt Sr. (Betsy), Stanley W. Merritt (Shelley) and Michael L. Merritt; six grandchildren, Andrenise Gibson (Edzra), Michael Merritt, Autumn Merritt, Jocelyn Smith (Germele), Karl Merritt, Jr. (LaToya) and Quentin King; six great grandchildren, Amaya, Alonnah, Avery, Sonai, Auston, and Elijah; special friends, Bridget Williams and Sonya Malave; loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.