This "Celebration of Life" website was created in memory of our loved one, William Michael Melton. We will remember him forever.
The Texas Memorial is being held Saturday, May 18th, 2019, 2pm graveside service at Prairie View Memorial Cemetery in Prairie View, Texas.
Michael's Celebration of Life in Los Angeles, California took place June 29, 2019. Service at 1pm, Repast followed. All video's have been uploaded and can be viewed in the gallery section.
Thank you to everyone who attended and made this a very special celebration.
Tributes
Leave a tributeWe can not express in words how blessed we are to have you in our lives. You have brought so much Joy, Love, Light, Grace and Abundance to so many of us. We feel your presence everyday and I thank you for watching over us.
I'm so glad that you didn't have to deal with the Pandemic OMG, you would have not been happy at all. We miss you so much and Love you more and more each day.
Love Toni and Trish, Bless You and Happy Heavenly Birthday. We'll be visiting the Polo room in your honor!
I’m writing this as if you are still here with us and in a sense you are. You touched my life indelibly and I salute you today. You enriched my life and I’m eternally grateful that our paths crossed. Until we meet again…
I hope they both Rest In Peace and know that they made a difference to many people.
We feel your presence with us daily. It's hard to believe it's been two years. I am relieved that you did not have to live through these recent challenges we've undergone since the pandemic, the elections, the social & racial injustices and the climate change. Thank you for your gracious acts and loving support always. We miss you and love you so much.
Toni and Trish
They both showed me what friendship could be and want defines loving relationships. Michael, you did well in life and made my life richer.
Through you, I am sure you made my loved one lives richer too.
Thinking of you. Your cousin Janice Melton. xo
There is not a day that goes by where I don't think about you and have conversations with you. Thank You for your consistent presence with us. I am grateful that you didn't have to experience this COVID-19 pandemic, the crazy racial injustice, the political drama and the climate challenges. It's been so insane and often I hear your voice with dismay of the entire situation. We love you always and miss you so much!. Thank you for your graciousness, your blessings and your Unconditional Love! I Love You!
Tonight I was in Altadena for the first time in nearly as long and I always thought of him in relation to this sweet town because some fellow classmates and I had the lovely pleasure of spending an evening with Michael and his husband at their home back in the “old days.” Tonight I thought of him and wondered if he was still here and thought maybe I’d try and drop in on him if possible. Our mutual friend Paul discovered this page and broke the bad news to me. Especially so because the reason I am here in LA is to help shepherd my own father through his end of life process.
Michael was a wonderful teacher and mentor to me and some of my friends and I always enjoyed my day at NHHS so much more when I had his class to look forward to. I had many challenges to shoulder during some of my high school years but Mr. Melton was a kind and steady presence in my life during that time. He was charming, smart, witty, and his sly mischievous smile was completely disarming. He called me a “sleeping giant” which I took as a compliment, even while I knew it was probably a term he used for many of us kids who were coasting through our school years. I wish I had kept in touch with him over the years to let him know that while I may not be a giant yet, I am most certainly sleeping no more.
RIP Michael, and thank you for being a part of my life.
Kieron
Your cousin, Janice Melton
Your friend,
John
It's hard to believe that it's been a year since we said goodbye. God knows I'm talking to you on a regular basis and Trish and I are missing you big time. Our laughs, our dinners, your parties, our outings. Things are so different in our world today. I'm actually grateful that you are not here dealing with these conditions. You would not be happy with the current orders the entire world is under. All restaurants are closed, all parks, all beaches, all malls, only essential services are open. It's unreal and surreal. We love you so much and are sending you Light of the Highest Potency! I pray that you are able to keep your eyes on all of us and protect us. Blessings to you Michael. Continue to RIP - Love Toni and Trish
Your loving Goddaughter...Dana
I never quite realized the depth of the impact that our friendship had on me and I am still recovering from the loss. I am forever grateful to have known him and to have shared such a close bond.
Michael was caring, generous, kind-hearted, mischievous, erudite, fun-loving, playful, loyal, loving , childlike, silly, sensitive, stubborn, confident, gregarious and the list goes on........
I will always love and cherish our time together.
April 18, 2019, the USGS officially retired the name Michael as a Hurricane name. Even they knew how special he was. True story. Look it up!!
Elaine Wrice, forever friend.
Michael was a fine human being and a great teacher. He cared about his students and would do anything for them. I worked with him at North Hollywood High and the kids loved him. They knew he really cared for them. He worked hard so that they received the value of a good education and would do well for themselves. He was not easy on them, but they loved him for that very reason.
He and his partner Ed were my very good friends. We had dinner with friends at their home, weekly, for some time. This was a home that was full of music, laughter and good people. When my relatives would come to visit from Montana and Michael found out, he would have us over, sharing a meal and a swim, opening his home and life to us.
My family loved him; how could you not love him? He had a dignity and authenticity few have. His laugh was infectious, and he loved to have a good drink, a good cigar and some fun. Michael came to Montana a few times over the years and we got to travel together too, once to New Orleans over Spring Break. Teachers on Spring Break, the kids had nothing on us!
My life was made better by Michael’s friendship and I would like to think that my friendship made his life better too. You are missed my friend.
Ruthie Reiquam
My life was deeply influenced by all of my teachers but particularly by English faculty at T.S. King and John Marshall. I owe a huge debt to Ms. Higashi, Mr. Goulet, Mr. Mintzer, Mrs. Rattay, Mr. Melton, and Mr. Hickman. They opened to me the word of intellect and emotion and expression. They made me feel valued and made me want to excell.
Mr. Melton was an excellent teacher and a lovely man. I am sorry that he is gone.
I will always remember the pure joy he took in my antics. We shared many jokes, tall tales, a love of AMTRAK train travel, and his deep love and respect for his unbelievably beautiful mother ( A DELTA like me).
My husband and I were blessed to be with him on 5 different occasions in his last 5 months. We weren't aware of his limited time on this earth. I know he was because he was really saying goodbye to us in the most loving way. God Bless You, Michael Melton.
Your influence in my life was significant, and I feel so blessed. You would always remind me that family and friends are the key ingredients to a happy life. I am so grateful for all the joy, love and wonderful times we shared.
You are, and will always be my sweet angel.
I pray the Lord to hold you safely in the palm of his hand....until we meet again.
God bless you....I love you.
After leaving Marshall High School he taught at North Hollywood High School where my daughter had the privilege of being in his English class in her junior year. He effected her as deeply as he had effected me.
He was lovely, he was graceful, he was full of light and love and he will be dearly missed. Michael Melton: you have left your fingerprints on my heart, and on the hearts of the thousands of students and colleagues with whom you have worked.
As you have ascended into Omega Chapter, I know that you are shining your bright light on all the brothers who have gone before. You are missed.
I can’t accept the reality that you are gone. You have been there for me my entire life being so loving and supportive. You never missed a birthday and were there for every momentous occasion. Life is short but the joy you brought me shall never die. My eyes cannot see you, but my heart can find your laughter and your love is etched deep in my mind. Death will never break our tie. Lives may fade, but my memories will never die. My parents couldn’t have selected a more perfect Godfather. Till the day we meet again, you will forever be in my heart and I will miss you dearly every day of my life.
Your Loving Goddaughter...Dana
Brother Michael Melton exemplified all the best traits of a true ALPHA man. He transitioned to the OMEGA Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Black and Old Gold forever.
Barbara Layton
Toni Elizabeth
Leave a Tribute
Please be patient.
Summer 1975
Karin Santiag
My friend
I was a student in his class at Marshall High and he was more than my teacher - he was mentor, friend, shrink and life guard when I was adrift.
Through his generous sharing of his intellect, wisdom and library I discovered a beautiful, imperfect, joyful, sexy world existed on the otherside of high school.
I am happy to have reconnected in time to be able to tell him how important he was to me then. How my life today is in his debt.
So gutted. Would very much like to know more of his last year if anyone reads this.
Prairie View Cemetery - Graveside Service, Memorial Program
William Michael Melton was buried with his Grandfather Dr. Edward B. Evans, former Principal and later the first President of Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.