Jackson County Supervisor Melton Harris dies. ‘We lost a true pillar in our community.’
Jackson County Supervisor Melton Harris died Tuesday morning from natural causes, Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd told the Sun Herald.
Harris, who retired from Chevron Refinery in 1999, was first elected to the board in 2008 as a representative for District 2, which covers parts of southeast Jackson County.
Harris, 75, woke up at 6:30 a.m. and had no complaints of feeling unwell, Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr said. He was at home with his wife, Portia, at the time of his death, Lynd said.
Harris was pronounced dead at 8:18 a.m.
“I hated it as soon as I got the call to come to his home because his death was unexpected,” Lynd said.
Lynd had just visited with Harris the week at the Pascaguola Rotary Club meeting. Harris was past president of the club.
“He was a great guy,” Lynd said. “He always spoke to me every time that I saw him. He just had a very calming demeanor and was a true asset to the Jackson County community.”
State Rep. Jeramey Anderson of Moss Point was surprised to hear of Harris’s passing Tuesday morning.
“People saw Melton Harris as a very healthy individual,” Anderson said. “No one is promised tomorrow and I think this shows that. We should live every day to make our community better. That’s exactly what Melton Harris did while he was here. It’s very shocking news for everybody.”
Harris served in the role of board president in 2011, 2016 and 2021. He was board vice president in 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Moss Point Ward 1 Alderman Sherwood Bradford had a close relationship with Harris, and he was emotional as he spoke of his friend Tuesday morning.
“He just gave until he couldn’t give anymore,” Bradford said. “He was a giver. He was thoughtful. He wanted everybody to make sure they were part of the process.”
A native of Grenada, Harris graduated from Carrie Dotson High School in 1965. He earned a degree in mathematics and science from Tougaloo College.
Harris was honorably discharged as a military policeman from the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era.
In Harris’s death, Bradford believes Moss Point has lost one of its most important leaders.
“It’s a dark hour for us,” said Bradford, who was a candidate for Moss Point mayor earlier this year. “He held us all up, made sure everybody was included.
“Everyone is shocked and hurt. We really lost the glue for Moss Point.”
Anderson described Harris’s death as a “traumatic loss” for the Coast.
“We have to figure how we go from here because we lost a true pillar in our community,” Anderson said. “It’s sad news to wake up to. The commitment Supervisor Harris made to the district and Jackson County in general must not cease. It must continue. We honor him by making sure it doesn’t stop.”
Jackson County Director of Public Safety Earl Etheridge praised Harris as “truly a great man” in a Tuesday morning statement.
“Supervisor Melton Harris had been a great advocate for not only my department but for Jackson County and the four cities as a whole,” Etheridge said. “He was known to work tirelessly in his efforts to move projects along that had great impacts here in the County.
“He was a man who loved his family and God and strove to share his love for Jackson County on a daily basis. He was quick to extend an olive branch and held no malice.”
Harris and his wife had three children — Donise, Marcus and Melani.
This story was originally published July 13, 2021 at 10:20 AM.
