William Michael Melton, fondly known as Michael Melton, was born January 26th, 1946 to William Robert Melton II and Ada Louise Evans Melton, in Tuskegee, Alabama. He was an only child to this union. Michael made his transition Saturday, April 13th, 2019 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, in Los Angeles, California.

During WW II, Michael’s father joined the Army and became a Tuskegee pilot.  He served honorably and continued involvement with the Tuskegee Airmen organization for the rest of his life and was the organization's president for years.

At a very young age Michael and his mother relocated to Los Angeles, California. He attended and graduated from Dorsey High School.Michael then moved to Texas for his undergraduate education – he enrolled at Prairie View A&M University and became a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967.

His first teaching assignment after graduating from Prairie View A&M University was at La Marque High School in La Marque, Tx.  He taught history and English for two years and then moved back to LA. Michael taught English at John Marshall High School in the Silver Lake neighborhood of LA as well as North Hollywood High School in the San Fernando Valley.He went on to become an Assistant Principal and eventually a senior administrator for LAUSD.

He had the opportunity to teach both very privileged and very underprivileged youth in his teaching career. He had a fondness for elevating his underprivileged students to the level of their more privileged classmates. To that end, he even mentored having members initially placed in remedial high school English classes and helping them to reach their potential as AP English literature students.Many of them went on to score 5's on the AP Exam, the highest score possible, which provided them an exit out of a life that put them in great danger. He was brilliant, witty, sweet, generous and incredibly wise.

Michael did a lot to address deficiencies in the administration of LAUSD, from hiring and mentoring up and coming talent within LAUSD to excising problematic individuals who had, until his tenure, been left untouched for years. He was so focused on his students' success..

Michael taught Advanced Placement Classes (college preparatory classes) and was on the national panel responsible for writing and grading the exam. He resisted being an administrator within the district for a long time but saw where his impact could enhance students inside and outside of the District even more due to the partnerships he established.  He retired after 40 years with LAUSD. A Phenomenal man he was.

Michael donated generously to A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project; an organization devoted to supporting previously incarcerated women. He was also the Chairperson of the African-Americans for LA Opera, a critical division of the Opera League of Los Angeles (on whose Board of Directors he served for several years).In his role as Chairperson of AALAO, he was instrumental in promoting and introducing young African American opera singers, and produced and hosted many musical events to showcase their talents.He loved opera very much, and amassed a significant collection of recordings, many of them historical, over the years.He also served on the Los Angeles (Pacific) Region’s organizing committee for the famous Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Michael lived a very controlled life and he was his own person...an Alpha Male.  At the same time, though, he was caring, culturally refined and appreciative, curious, adventurous, bold yet set in his ways. He built his life in a way that brought him immense satisfaction. His friend and partner, Edgar Galyen, was also loved by many, for his kindness and genuine nature. Ed's death and the death of his mother Ada significantly impacted Michael, but he carried on.... determined to do all things his own special way. 

In retirement, Michael loved Europe and traveled there on an annual basis.He became an even greater lover of the arts, theatre, classical music and opera. He sat on several opera boards, and was a genuine foodie.

Michael was a Lover of Life, People, Events, Music, Restaurants, Cooking, Travel, a committed Philanthropist and a very generous human being who had an impact on many lives.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, William Robert Melton II and Ada Louise Evans Cannady; his grandparents William Robert Melton Sr. and Delores Julia Hodges Melton Smith, and Dr. Edward B. Sr. and Lucille L. Evans; Uncle Henry and Aunt Regina Melton; Uncle Edward B Jr. and Aunt Catherine Evans. Michael is survived by his first cousins Marcia Melton Wade, Susan Melton Wilson, Henry Christopher Melton, Edward B. “Bertram” Evans III and his wife Arnell, Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and her husband Malik Shabazz, Cathy L. Jackson and her husband Fred Jackson, Charlotte L. Williams and her husband Dr. Jamie Williams, and Marc T. Evans; his step sister Cynthia C. Cannady; and his lifelong friends Dwight and Barbara Fields, Perris Fields, his goddaughter Dana Fields; Patricia Patillo aka Trish Turner, Toni Patillo, Joe Waxman and Barbara Layton Waxman, John & Wendy Silvers and goddaughter Joie May Silvers, Kevin and Crystal Harrison, Halynn and Lee Harrison, and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and hundreds of friends. Michael was known to many as “Uncle Mike”.

We celebrate today the full and productive life of this remarkable man. Michael will certainly be missed.