SJR 6

SJR6 ENROLLED
1 SJR6
2 CXSFGJQ-2
3 By Senators Singleton, Allen, Albritton, Barfoot, Beasley,
4 Bell, Butler, Carnley, Chambliss, Chesteen, Coleman,
5 Coleman-Madison, Elliott, Figures, Givhan, Gudger, Hatcher,
6 Hovey, Jones, Kelley, Kitchens, Livingston, Melson, Orr,
7 Price, Roberts, Sessions, Shelnutt, Smitherman, Stewart,
8 Stutts, Waggoner, Weaver, Williams, Woods
9 RFD: Rules
10 First Read: 14-Jan-26
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1 Enrolled, An Act,
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4 SJR___ MOURNING THE DEATH AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF FORMER
5 REPRESENTATIVE BRYANT MELTON, JR.
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7WHEREAS, it is with profound sorrow and deep regret
8 that we record the passing of The Honorable Bryant Melton,
9 Jr. on December 17, 2025, at the age of 85; and
10WHEREAS, through his selfless commitment and
11 dedication, Bryant Melton served to better the quality of
12 life in Alabama as an Associate Pastor, Legislator, and
13 civic leader, and he had a measurable positive impact on the
14 lives of its residents; he was a devoted Christian, husband,
15 father, public servant, educator, and veteran; and
16WHEREAS, Rev. Melton was born on May 9, 1940, in
17 Sprott, Alabama, the seventh of nine children to the late
18 Bryant Melton, Sr. and Bertha Dobynes Melton; he accepted
19 Christ as his Savior at an early age and joined Poplar Grove
20 Baptist Church; and
21WHEREAS, while attending Lincoln High School, he
22 served as President of the Student Government Association
23 and was President of his Senior Class; following graduation,
24 he began college at Alabama A&M University; however, his
25 studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the United
26 States Army in 1960; he served multiple tours of duty that
27 included a period in Korea; he later retired from the U.S.
28 Army Reserve; his military service was marked by dedication
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29 and honor, traits that defined him throughout his long and
30 distinguished life; and
31WHEREAS, Bryant married his college sweetheart, the
32 lovely Emma Jean Holmes, on May 5, 1962; he went on to
33 complete his undergraduate studies at Stillman College,
34 graduating with a degree in Chemistry in 1965; in 2000, Rev.
35 Melton was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by
36 Alabama A&M University; and
37WHEREAS, during his early career, Rev. Melton worked
38 in various positions, including as a United States postman,
39 insurance salesman for Protective Insurance, planner with
40 Community Service Programs of West Alabama, quality control
41 specialist with B.F. Goodrich for 25 years, and teacher at
42 Druid High School and Hale County Training School; in 1990,
43 Rev. Melton became employed by Shelton State Community
44 College, where he held various administrative positions
45 until he retired in August 2006; and
46WHEREAS, Rev. Melton was elected to the Alabama
47 Legislature in 1982, and he was re-elected seven times
48 before retiring in 2006; he was the first Black Legislator
49 elected from Tuscaloosa County since Reconstruction; his
50 legacy includes helping to redesign the structures of
51 Tuscaloosa's city and county governments, as well as the
52 city school board, to be more representative of their
53 populations; he was also the sponsor and co-sponsor of the
54 Mercedes-Benz bills that brought jobs and economic
55 development to Tuscaloosa and West Alabama; and
56WHEREAS, Bryant Melton was very involved in the
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57 Tuscaloosa community, belonging to a number of
58 organizations, such as the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,
59 the Alabama New South Coalition, the Alabama Democratic
60 Conference, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference,
61 and he was a life member of the NAACP and former president
62 of the Tuscaloosa County Chapter from 1972 to 1982; during
63 his tenure as president, Rev. Melton was responsible for
64 starting the Annual Emancipation Proclamation Program and
65 the Annual Human Rights Award Banquet; he was also a 32nd
66 Degree Mason; and
67WHEREAS, leadership and service were strong tenets of
68 Bryant Melton's foundation; he was a charter member of the
69 Board of Directors of the West Alabama Sickle Cell
70 Association, former member and Chairman of the Alabama
71 Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission, former
72 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Community Service
73 Programs of West Alabama (CSP), founding member and former
74 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the McDonald Hughes
75 Multi-Purpose Community Center, and Scoutmaster for the Boy
76 Scouts of America, during which time five boys, including
77 his son Tony, earned the prestigious Eagle Scout award;
78 additionally, he supported many nonprofit organizations,
79 including the Murphy African American Museum; and
80WHEREAS, Rev. Melton also received numerous awards
81 and honors throughout his life, including being chosen in
82 1982 as Man of the Year for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
83 Inc.; in 1983, he received the Citizen of the Year Award
84 from the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Man of the Year from
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85 The Christian Study Center of Alabama, and the NAACP
86 Distinguished Presidential Award for Exceptional Leadership
87 and Devoted Service; he received the Distinguished Alumni
88 Award from the Stillman College National Alumni Association
89 in 1984 and 1987; in 1988, Rev. Melton received the
90 Community Service Award from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
91 Inc. South Eastern Region; in 1996, he was elected
92 Legislator of the Year by the Mental Health Consumers of
93 Alabama; in 1999, he was presented with Distinguished
94 Service Awards from the Alabama Education Association and
95 the Department of Industrial Relations; in 2000, he was
96 elected Legislator of the Year by the Mental Health
97 Commission and received awards from the Tuscaloosa County
98 Preservation Society and the Murphy African American Museum
99 for his contribution to the renovation of the museum; and
100WHEREAS, Rev. Melton joined First African Baptist
101 Church in Tuscaloosa in 1964 under the pastorate of Rev.
102 T.Y. Rogers, Jr.; he served in various positions and
103 activities through the years, including serving as a Trustee
104 and later becoming Chairman of the Trustee Board; he
105 ultimately responded to the call of ministry and preached
106 his initial sermon there in 2010; and
107WHEREAS, Rev. Bryant Melton, Jr. was preceded in
108 death by his parents; three brothers, Willie Melton, David
109 Melton, and Jonathan Melton; and four sisters, Minnie Pryor,
110 Millie Ford, Sara Walker, and Maudie Melton; he leaves to
111 cherish his memory his devoted wife of 63 years, Emma Jean
112 Holmes Melton; three beloved children, Tony B. Melton
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113 (Lisa), DeLisa Melton Tolbert (Tony), and Emily Melton Bell,
114 M.D. (Tony); sister, Carolyn Goode (Jerome); eight loving
115 grandchildren, Tyler Melton, Justin Tolbert, Trevor Melton,
116 Lauren Tolbert, Rachel Tolbert, Trey Bell, Ethan Bell, and
117 Wesley Bell; dedicated brother-in-law, Earnest Holmes; his
118 children's godmother, Alma Wyatt Jones; and a host of
119 extended family and friends; and
120WHEREAS, Rev. Melton's life was guided by faith and a
121 deep love for his community; he will be remembered for his
122 generous spirit and enduring influence on all who were
123 privileged to know him; he leaves behind a legacy which will
124 long endure the passage of time and remain as a comforting
125 memory to his proud and grateful family; now therefore,
126BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
127 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the death of The Honorable
128 Reverend Bryant Melton, Jr. is recorded with deep sadness,
129 and this resolution is offered in tribute to his life and
130 service to others, along with heartfelt sympathy to his
131 family, whose grief is shared by many.
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138________________________________________________
139President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
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143________________________________________________
144Speaker of the House of Representatives
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147 SJR6
148 Senate 14-Jan-26
149 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
150 passed the Senate.
151
152Patrick Harris,
153Secretary.
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158 House of Representatives
159 Passed: 22-Jan-26
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164 By: Senator Singleton
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