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: 01/11/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association