Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done. — Benjamin E. Mays
On more than one occasion, I would tell Frank Melton that I needed a job and he would always reply, “Jughead, you have to commit a crime.” His facetious retort had a bit of truth in it, because in retrospect, the mayor provided numerous individuals who were guilty of some sort malfeasance with employment opportunities. It was on March 10, 2009 that I last spoke with Frank at a meeting of the Jackson City Council and I was present on that day to receive a posthumous resolution honoring my mother, Mrs. Beatrice Young. Frank had taken a break from his trial and I told him that the demolition of the Jackson Apartments at 1129 West Maple Street was bittersweet because so many people that I knew once resided there, foremost was Medgar and Myrlie Evers.
Over the years, I had many conversations with Frank and there was a consistent theme throughout our many exchanges. He truly loved Jackson, Mississippi and the young people of this community. Irrespective of the address – Wood Street, Woodhaven, Alta Woods, or Ridgewood Road, he was constantly focused on coming up with ways to create ways to make this community a better place for all of its citizenry. Upon becoming mayor in 2005, I recall in July 4th inaugural address his pledge to go about making change like it had never been done before. This he did with the exuberance of the Energizer Bunny, going from one place to the next addressing the manifold concerns of the diverse groups that made up Jackson.
Like him or not, you never had to question where Frank was coming from and he could communicate well with persons from all socioeconomic backgrounds constituting this community. In going about his mission to tranform this city, Mayor Melton challenged and confounded civil rights and civil liberties organizations, law enforcement agencies, politicians and some in the religious community. Indeed, upon assuming the highest elective office in Jackson, there was never a dull moment.
Although I never got a job in the Melton administration, I shall always remember him for being an honest, hardworking human being who had the best interests of Jackson in his heart and, with the best that he had to offer, he gave us his all.
“And the time of my departure is a hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, Shall give me that day: And not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”
II Timothy 4: 6-8
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gene C. Young, Ph.D., “JUGHEAD”, Jackson, Mississippi
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