Melvin Lewis Gilghrest

Cobbtown,

Melvin Gilghrest was born July 2, 1935 in Metter Georgia to the late Mack and Annie Mae Gilghrest.  He attended public school in Georgia.

He was a gentle and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.  He never met a stranger and loved animals.  He was well known for his love of hogs which brought people of all walks of life to his home to see the best fed hogs around

Melvin was a sharecropper for many years and he cooked his famous barbecue for Westside Food in Cobbtown which was owned by Louie and Gloria Mercer.   He also worked many years for Smith Farms where he shared his knowledge of growing and harvesting onions before retiring due to health conditions.

God called him home early in the morning on Dec. 12, 2022.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mack and Annie M. Gilghrest, his sons Leo and Melvin Gilghrest Jr., his brothers Matthew and Hubert Gilghrest and sister Annie Will Anderson.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving wife of 55 years, Emma Dean Gilghrest, six daughters, Martha Lawton (Ronnie) of Atl. Ga, Gloria Ann Gilghrest and Cleo Thomas(Freamen) of Tampa Fla. Patricia Haggray (Gerald) of Hinesville Ga. Kathleen Mckinney(Jimmy) of Dublin Ga. And Cynthia Rock (David Robert) of Collins Ga.  Five sister-in-laws: Hattie Williams (Willie Earl Sr.) of Cobbtown Ga, Audrey Weeks of West Palm Beach Fla., Vernice Mosley of Claxton Ga., Annie Lois Moore (Franklin) of Metter Ga., Shelia Lewis(Otto) of Statesboro Ga. Two brother-in-laws: Ronnie Byrd and Theodore Byrd of Metter Ga., a special god-son Shalom George of Pembroke Ga. Twenty-nine grandchildren one of which he raised as his own child, Alexis Byrd Hill, forty-one great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 16, 2022 from the hours of 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the funeral home.  Funeral services will be held 1:00pm on Saturday December 17, 2022 at Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Cobbtown.