IN MEMORIAM

Surrounded by loving family and in his home, Melvin Reed Flowers peacefully passed away in the early morning of April 5, 2024, his father’s birthday. 

Melvin is remembered by his friends and family for his jovial spirit, quick wit, and enduring kindness. Meeting folks with a grin and a handshake, he loved to tell stories, crack jokes, and wouldn’t miss a Braves game. He loved his hometown of Landis but also enjoyed lake-life on Lake Norman for the last 35 years of his life, watching the lake while lounging in his hammock or den, captaining his boat, and taking his family tubing and skiing for as long as he could. From November to Christmas, you might confuse his beard and jolly demeanor for Santa Claus, who he often helped out at holiday appearances near his home in Terrell. 

Devoted to service, Melvin was an active member of the Landis Lion’s Club and later the Sherrill’s Ford Lion’s Club, serving as President of both many times across his tenure. His legacy of service is continued by his son Reed, a Lion and former club president, and his son Tim, a Master Mason. Melvin was also active in his congregation, a member of the Methodist Men and usher at Rehobeth Methodist Church. 

In life, he was a charter member of the Carolina Travel Trailer Club, which he, his wife Audrey, and friends established in 1960 to gather for fun and fellowship. Holding “camping weekend” sacred for decades, Melvin and Audrey camped with the club across the southeast in their 1970 Holiday Rambler until nearly their 90th birthdays. Sixty-four years after its founding, Melvin’s children and grandchildren carry on the legacy with CTTC.

Across his 59-year working life, Melvin participated in construction projects that shaped the city of Charlotte and the infrastructure of many cities throughout the region. After throwing an eraser back at an ornery 10th-grade teacher, Melvin walked out of school in 1948 (although he would later earn his diploma, something he was adamant about achieving) and began his career working for his uncle at Charlotte Sprinkler Systems as a pipe-fitter’s helper. Learning on the job to operate heavy equipment, Melvin left Charlotte Sprinkler and began working for H.B. Owsley and Sons Construction Company in 1952. During his 14 years with the company, he operated what was then the tallest tower crane in North Carolina, setting the roof structures for Presbyterian Hospital, the Charlotte Coliseum (now Bojangles Coliseum), dormitories on the campus in NC State, grading the banks of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, and many other projects. Following his work with H.B. Owsley, he worked with the sanitary district of Kannapolis, in sales with Southern Meter and Supply Company, and as a supervisor for D.C. Linn Construction Company, where he worked with heavy-lift helicopters on the Piedmont Airlines expansion project at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In 1990, Melvin took his last post, working as a supervisor for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department until his retirement in 2007 at age 75.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Louise Hampton, his father Ray Patrick, and his brother, Ray Patrick “June”, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Audrey; his sons Melvin Reed “Reed”, II and his wife Shirley, and Timothy and his wife Robyn; his grandchildren Melanie and her husband Ryan, Jennifer and her husband Dave, Jeremy and his wife Liz, Cindy and her husband Zach, Josh and his wife Michelle, and Jacob; and his great-grandchildren Samuel and his wife Allie, Jackson, Mason, Bee, William, Isaac, Emily, and Everette.