Glendora in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Clinton Melton

Clinton Mellon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

1. Clinton Mellon Marker

Inscription. The September 1955 acquittal of J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant for the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till fueled further racial violence. Clinton Melton was an outspoken black man who was gunned down here 2-1/2 months later by Milam’s friend Elmer Kimball, allegedly over a dispute about filling up a gas tank. On the day before Kimball’s trial in Sumner, Melton’s widow, Beulah, was apparently forced off the road near Glendora and drowned in Black Bayou, leaving five children orphaned. Kimball was acquitted of Clinton Melton’s murder.

Erected 2008 by State of Mississippi.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1955.

Location. 33° 49.89′ N, 90° 17.844′ W. Marker is in Glendora, Mississippi, in Tallahatchie County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Swan Lake Road, on the right when traveling south on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Main Street, Glendora MS 38928, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. King's Place (approx. ¼ mile away); Sonny Boy Williamson (approx. ¼ mile away); Milam's House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Glendora Gin

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); River Site (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mose Allison (approx. 8.7 miles away); Tallahatchie County (approx. 9.6 miles away); Tallahatchie County Confederate Monument (approx. 10½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glendora.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Kimball acquittal. (Submitted on October 23, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Area view towards town of Glendora. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

2. Area view towards town of Glendora.

View of marker looking north on Swan Lake Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

3. View of marker looking north on Swan Lake Road.

View of marker looking west towards Black Bayou Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 18, 2015

4. View of marker looking west towards Black Bayou Road.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,305 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 23, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.