C. Melvin Chapman

C. Melvin Chapman, age 94, passed away October 27, 2023, just one week shy of his 95th birthday. Services will be held at First Baptist Church Albany on Tuesday. October 31, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Internment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Sylvester. GA. Dr. William E. “Butch” Knight will officiate. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mynette May Chapman, his parents, Cecil and Mary McDonald Chapman, his sister, Nell Shiver, and his brother, Bennett Chapman. 

He is survived by his two daughters, Carla Chapman Pless (Thomas) of Greensboro, NC, and Joan Chapman Kelley (Carlton) of Nashville, NC. He is also survived by his sister, Vivian Chapman Nandrasy (Carl), and brothers Wayne Chapman and Bruce Chapman (Sheila). He has four grandchildren, Laurie Mynette-Pless Taylor, Noel Pless, Jared Kelley and Clayton Kelley, 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 

Melvin graduated from Poulan High School, in Worth County, GA in 1945. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in agriculture in 1948. He taught agriculture and farming to veterans in South Georgia cities. He enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He earned the rank of Second Lieutenant and served in Japan until the Korean War ended in 1953.    After returning home from Japan, he married his sweetheart, Mynette May, also of Worth County, Georgia. They moved to Lyons, Georgia, where he ran a fertilizer store until he joined the John Hancock Insurance Company. He later worked for C & S Bank for 29 years, living in Decatur, Georgia and then Albany, Georgia, where he lived for 50 years. He lived with his daughter, Joan, and her husband, since 2021 in North Carolina. 

Throughout his life, he lived a life of service to the Lord Jesus. He taught Sunday School and served as a deacon for many, many years. He worked with the Georgia Baptist Men on disaster relief across southeastern United States. He worked on a team of volunteers, with Charles Sheppard, to build wheelchair ramps throughout the Albany area. He served at the Lord’s Pantry in Albany for a number of years, as well. One of his main hobbies was woodworking. He began making items for the house using hand tools. Later he began designing and making more complex furniture using power tools. Many family members and friends decorate their homes with furniture he made. Several items were made for use at First Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.  He was a member of First Baptist Church since 1971.Another of his lifelong hobbies was fishing. He passed that love of fishing on to his daughters and several of his grandchildren and even great grandchildren. While he had many noble accomplishments throughout his life, he preferred to stay out of the limelight. He accomplished many tasks because it was the right thing to do and it needed doing. He was a ‘matter of fact’ man who was trusted to carry through with promises and commitments. He loved the Lord, took care of his family and served his church, community and country. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. 

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.