01/13/2026
Beth Melton, born March 21, 1939, left her earthly home January 11, 2026.
Visitation will be held from 5pm to 8pm, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 2pm, Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Bro. Jay Pollan and Bro. Martin Ferguson will officiate. Interment will follow at Ramah Cemetery in Tenaha.
Beth was born at home in Paxton, Texas to Spivey and Ella King. She grew up helping her family by working on the farm. She attended Old Home Baptist Church where she was saved and baptized. In her free time, she loved playing basketball for the Tenaha Tigers, graduating from Tenaha High School in 1957. Since then, she has enjoyed watching her love of basketball be passed down to future generations. She did this by providing the support and encouragement her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren needed to further develop their basketball skills in her own special way.
After graduating high school, she attended the University of Houston for further education. While in Houston she met and married the love of her life, Hiram Melton. They were married in 1958 and moved back to the East Texas area as newlyweds. Living in Henderson, Texas, where Hiram was attending Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary, she found her calling in life. She devoted her life to serving the Lord with her husband, as well as being a devoted wife and mother. In September of 1959 they welcomed their first child, Brenda, into the world and in August of 1962, their son, Randy, was born. Beth and Hiram were married for 63 years and 9 months before Hiram went to be with the Lord in 2021.
She found great joy serving as the Pastor’s wife, wherever Hiram followed the call to Pastor in East Texas. She often found herself as the pianist at the churches they pastored. Besides the piano, Beth also had other roles in the church. She taught youth classes, organized Vacation Bible Schools, and worked with youth choirs. Beth was a role model to everyone of what a Christ centered woman should be. She made a lot of friends throughout the state of Texas.
Beth and Hiram lived in Hughes Springs and were at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for 27 years. While living there, she worked as a dental lab technician. Her hobbies were gardening and sewing as a younger woman. Beth and Hiram retired and came back home to Tenaha, where they served as pastor and pastor’s wife at Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church in Joaquin, Texas. As time went by, she developed more hobbies and interests. She enjoyed crafting, turning gourds into snowmen and manger scenes for family and friends. In her later years she loved working with her flowers and sewing, embroidering, and playing with her great-grandchildren. She found peace in feeding the local wildlife and taking care of her ducks. After Hiram’s death, Beth continued to serve the Lone Cedar Church as an active member until her death Sunday, January 11th.
Beth and Hiram were blessed with two children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She has left a lasting impression on all those who knew her.
Beth is survived by:
Children:
Brenda Farmer of Tenaha
Randy Melton and wife Shannon of Tenaha
Grandchildren:
Jason Farmer and wife Melanie of Tenaha
Alan Farmer and wife Tiffany of Tenaha
Ryan Melton and wife Joyce of Kilgore
Kyle Melton of Longview
Jacob Melton and wife Hannah of Charleston, South Carolina
Great-grandchildren:
JP Farmer
Daisy Farmer
Tyler Farmer
Everly Farmer
Kristophe Melton
Annelise Melton
Elliana Melton
Marybeth Melton
She is preceded in death by her husband, Hiram Melton; parents, Spivey and Ella King; brother, Jimmy King; and son-in-law, Steven Farmer.
Pallbearers will be Phil Worsham, Brandon Cooper, Ricky Lawrence, John Paul Lawson, Glen Oates, and Mike Lawson. Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Gray and Wayne Gray.
Online condolences and tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfh.com
