John Alan Melancon

As this is being written, I am sitting in the Hospice room at Memorial Hospital in Nacogdoches TX watching my husband John Melancon as he slowly dies. I know this is supposed to be an obituary, but I want it to be a Tribute to a man of exceeding courage, wisdom and above all, faith. John was born April 6, 1950 to Henry and Virginia Melancon. He was the youngest of four brothers, being preceded in death by Robert, who died in infancy.

We, John and I have been married for 53 years. He felt the call to preach in his 20’s but I discouraged him, saying that God had called him to be a husband and father. Eventually I got my heart right, and he went on to serve The Lord the next 40 years as pastor, missionary, Biblical archaeologist and seminary teacher.

John holds a Master’s Degree in English Bible, a Doctor of Ministry with an emphasis in Near Eastern Archaeology and a PhD-ABD in Archaeology.

He has had such an impact on the people he has interacted with. Sitting in the room with me are a lady who drove here from Arkansas and a gentleman who drive from Mississippi just because of the love they have for him. Multitude have reached out from around the entire world.

I’ve been trying to keep people updated as to what has happened since he first went to the ER, and it has snowballed. There are 10’s of thousands of people literally all over the world praying for him. The testaments they write of how God used John to change their lives is overwhelming.

I did not anticipate his going downhill so fast, nor having to make the impossible decision to remove life support. Nor, sitting in this room writing his obituary. I had envisioned going back home and living at least 10 more years together. But, it is God’s will, not mine. May God be glorified and thank you for reading my tribute to my wonderful husband.