James Bland Mellette, Jr.

Irmo - LTC James Bland Mellette Jr., USA Ret. died Tuesday, March 12, 2024. He was born June 11, 1941 in Sumter S.C. He was the son of the late James Bland Mellette Sr and Carolyn Erskine Gillespie Mellette Morse.

He is survived by his wife, Connie O. Mellette; his son, James Bland Mellette III and his wife, Ansley Mellette of Mt. Pleasant; his daughter, YNC Catherine Schmidt, USCG, and her wife, Lindsay Schmidt of Tacoma, W.A.; and his daughter, LTC Nancy Clauss, USA, and her husband MAJ Timothy Clauss, USA Ret., of Manassas, V.A.; eight grandchildren, Kate, Jonathan, Rebecca, David, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Liam, and Conor; and his sister, Carolyn Erskine Gillespie Mellette Edwards of Charlotte, N.C.

He graduated Sumter Edmonds High School, Class of 1959 and The Citadel, Class of 1963. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed a tour in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 receiving the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious heroism while in combat. He retired with over 35 years of military service and retired with over 30 years of civilian service with South Carolina Highway Department of Transportation. He was a member at Chapin Presbyterian Church where he sang in the church choir.

A visitation will be held Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 1 p.m. and a service at 2 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home- Dutch Fork Chapel. A graveside service will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg located near Sumter, S.C. with interment in the family plot.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Church of the Holy Cross, 335 N. Kings Hwy., Sumter, SC 29154.