More detail on this person: Brigadier General
Steven L. Melancon, beloved husband and father,
passed away peacefully at home on Aug 2, 2013.
His modest manner & generous spirit hallmarked a
life unselfishly dedicated to family, community
and country. He was a decorated pilot,
accomplished attorney, skilled craftsman, master
storyteller, expert genealogist and was more
technologically savvy than those half his age.
Born in Clinton, LA to Lona A. & Louis A.
Melancon, he spent formative years in Bogue
Chitto, MS. In 1963, a chance encounter at the
local cinema in Brookhaven, MS introduced him to
the love of his life, Veda Janice "Jan" Nevels.
His various military assignments include two tours
in Vietnam. The Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf
Cluster, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster &
Air Medal with "V" for Valor are among his
numerous national awards. From the State of MS
he received the Magnolia Medal & the War Medal.
He is a 1995 inductee to the Field Artillery
Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He received
a B.A. from the University of NE and a J.D. from
Ole Miss.
From 1979-1988, Gen. Melancon practiced law in
Brookhaven, held a seat the MS House of
Representatives and was instrumental in revamping
the state's Justice of the Peace court system. He
considered passing a bill on mandatory school
attendance one of his greatest accomplishments. In
1983, he founded the Wesley Mission which fed
and taught at risk youth.
Prior to retirement from the Nationall Guard in
1996, he served as the Dir. for Operations for the
U.S. Selective Service System. In 2001, he became
the MS State Director for the Selective Service
System. He most recently served as a county
Veteran's Service Officer.
He was a Sunday school teacher and lay leader of
First United Methodist Church of Brookhaven. He
was a Past President of the Lincoln County Bar
Assn, a member of the MS Army Natl Guard Assn,
the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, the
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Assn, and the State Bar.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jan
Melancon, daughter Jena C. Melancon, son Louis
P. (Heather) Melancon, grandchildren Simon L.
Vlahovic, Marcus S. Vlahovic, Eloise A. E.
Melancon, L. Theodore Melancon, niece Stevie L.
Nevels, & half-siblings Daniel Beavers & Ann
Young.
Visitation is Mon, Aug 5th, Riverwood Family
Funeral, 76 Hwy 51 S, Bogue Chitto from 5-8 pm.
The memorial service is Tues, Aug 6th, Brookhaven
FUMC at 10 am.
Published in Clarion Ledger on August 5, 2013
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association