Alumni Affairs - Fayetteville State University

Family of the Year Award

The Family of the Year Award was established in 1983 to recognize and honor the parents of four or more children who graduated from Fayetteville State University, and who continue to bring credit to their family and to the University, through their achievements and active involvement in their respective communities. The Family of the Year is honored in April during Founders Day Convocation with an attractive university plaque and brief biography of the parents and alumni siblings in the program.

Nomination Form [PDF]

“Family of the Year” for 2005

The FSU “Family of the Year” for 2005 is the Robert and late Addie Brown Melvin Family. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin were devoted parents who always stressed the importance of education and religion to their six children. In 1966, with the youngest child still in elementary school and the oldest just completing her studies at Fayetteville State University, Mrs. Melvin died before seeing her dream for her children reach fruition. However, her husband continued to embrace the vision, working many years multiple jobs to give then an opportunity to further their education which they did.

Family of the year 2005
Robert and late Addie Brown Melvin Family

Four of their six children graduated from Fayetteville State University and have contributed richly to their respective communities. They are Edna Melvin Carter ’64, Gaylor Melvin Simmons ’69, Blondean Melvin Christian-King ’75; and Clifton Melvin ’85.

Family of the Year Recipients 1983-2002

1983 The James B. Wright Family Rocky Mount, NC	1994 The Paul and Annie Bryant Family Clinton, NC
1984 The Jessie Mae Owens Family Roseboro, NC	1995 The Josephine Rozier Thompson Family Lumberton, NC
1985 The Beatrice Bracey Family Garysburg, NC	1996 The George W. and Betty Brown Family Riegelwood, NC
1986 The David Hill Family Fayetteville, NC	1997 The Henry Herman and Bessie Parker Family Jackson, NC
1987 The Cornie Lee and Ella Mae McLauchlin Family Fayetteville, NC	1998 The Wilson and Maudie P. Lawrence Family Chadbourne, NC
1988 The Rev. Jeremiah and Leolar Williams Family Clinton, NC	1999 The David O'Berry and Maggie Darden Bell Family Fayetteville, NC
1989 The Vivian Diggs Family Tarboro, NC	2000 The Earl and Mildred Best Smith Family Goldsboro, NC
1990 The Gabriel McNeill Family Elm City, NC	2001 The Dennis R and Polly Simpson McNair Family Fayetteville, NC
1991 The Rev. D. Hector and Henrietta McEachern Family Fayetteville, NC	2002
1992 The Raymond and Myrtle Battle Family Grifton, NC	2003 The Alvin and Ruth Taylor Family
1993 The Roy and Reather McNeill Family Fayetteville, NC	2004 The Reverend Bessie Moore Family Fayetteville, NC
	2005 The Robert and late Addie Brown Melvin Family