Melford Alonzo Wilson

Melford Alonzo Wilson, Jr.

November 30, 1939 – November 1, 2024

Melford A. Wilson, Jr. of Rock Hill, Lake Junaluska, Mt. Pleasant, and the world, passed away at his Junaluska family home Friday night. Melford was never happier than when he was with his family, at Lake Junaluska, or leading a group to some new place – unless it was when he had cracked open a cold can of Diet Coke and was standing in front of a lecture hall full of students about to hold forth for an hour or two. 

Born on Thanksgiving Day (the last year it was the last day in November) in Colombia, SC, Melford grew up in Washington, DC, and at various points all over South Carolina. He graduated from Daniels High School in Clemson, and then enrolled in Wofford College. In 1960 he took a year off college, before it was a cool thing to do, and taught high school math in Pakistan where his aunt and uncle were missionaries. He graduated from Wofford and earned his Ph.D. in International Relations from American University.

Melford taught at Winthrop University for fifty years, building the Political Science department, starting the Winthrop Model United Nations, directing the International Center, and serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs. He lost count of how many countries he visited, but he concentrated his studies in Asia, receiving multiple Fulbright grants to study and teach. He traveled and taught most extensively in China, ultimately receiving the key to the city of Shanghai. He wrote about these experiences in his book Here Comes China: One American’s Experiences in the People’s Republic, 1979-2018. 

Melford served on Rock Hill’s City Council and Chamber of Commerce, was an active member for decades at St. John’s United Methodist Church, valued his friends in his Sunday School class, his Monday Night Football group, his morning coffee group in Dinkins Student Center, and his book club. He also received a key to the city of Rock Hill which pleased him to no end. All of this was pretty good for a kid who was struck by lightning when he was on the lifeguard stand at Lake Junaluska—everyone who saw it thought he was a goner for sure. 

Melford is survived by his wife Dr. Patricia Wolman, his daughter Marion (John McMurria), his sons, Melford (Jennifer) and John (Liz), his brother Dr. John D. Wilson, his grandchildren Brooks, Luke, Lytle, Miller, Grace, Lee, and Harry; the Evans family, Maggie, Barry, Davis, and Eliza; and too many cousins, nieces, and nephews to count. He was preceded in death by his wife Janet Riggle and his parents Mel and Daisy (Holler) Wilson. 

A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 at the Memorial Chapel at Lake Junaluska.  Following the services there will be a recpetion at the Warren Center in Lake Junaluska.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Melford A. Wilson, Jr. International Endowment Scholarship at Winthrop University to fund students studying abroad.