Sonny Melton
Sonny Melton
Wedding photo of Sonny and Heather Melton on the beach with family
James "Sonny" Melton (August 2, 1988 - October 1, 2017) was a Registered Nurse at Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee. On October 1, 2017 Sonny Melton sacrificed his life to save his wife, Heather Melton during the Mandalay Bay Resort Shooting October 2017. He was remembered by family and friends for his sweet, caring, and kind nature. [1]
Early Life
Sonny Melton grew up in Big Sandy, Tennessee a small located small town of under 600 people located near Paris, Tennessee. His parents were Susan Melton and James Warren Melton. He had a brother, Jacob Melton and a sister, Katie Melton.
Personal Life
Wedding photo of Sonny and Heather Melton
Sonny Melton married Heather Melton in 2016. The couple both work at the Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee. The couple has 3 children from her previous relationship. [1] The couple lived together in Big Sandy, Tennessee.
Sonny Melton and Heather were both passionate about the outdoors and enjoyed water sports. They also both enjoyed watching Football and were fans of the Tennessee Titans. He was an avid duck hunter as well.
Education
In 2015, Sonny Melton graduated from Union University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He was also the president of his BSNA class.
Before becoming a nurse, Sonny Melton graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a bachelor's degree in Finance. Sonny graduated from Big Sandy High School in 2006.
Career
Sonny Melton worked in the Emergency Room as a a Registered Nurse at the Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee. He previously worked as a Registered Nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee. [1]
Before becoming a Registered Nurse, Sonny worked as a Financial Advisor at Modern Woodmen of America.
Memory
Photo of of Sonny and his wife Heather Melton
Sonny Melton's wife Heather Melton posted on Facebook that she lost her “true love and knight in shining armor” and asked for time to grieve. [1]
Heather Melton said “He was always smiling,” said Melton.
“The most infectious smile.
He loved his family and my children like his own.”
The couple has 3 children from her previous relationship.
She continued, “Nursing was his calling, and he served well as the hands and feet of Jesus.
We are all better for having known him.
Even as we grieve his passing, we rejoice in the fact that in Christ we have victory over death.”
Union University School of Nursing Dean Kelly Harden said:
“Our hearts are broken for his family, friends and colleagues.
Sonny was energetic, enthusiastic and had a positive attitude that was infectious.
He had a love for people, and was a natural choice for class president.
You could not help but smile when you saw him, whether that was in class or taking care of patients.
"[1]
Death
NBC News segment on how Sonny sacrificed his life to save his wife Heather Melton
During October, 2017 Heather Melton and her husband Sonny Melton were vacationing in Las Vegas, Nevada to celebrate the one year wedding anniversary. On October 1, 2017 Heather and Sonny attended a Jason Aldean show at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. The show was the site of the Mandalay Bay Resort Shooting October 2017 where Stephen Paddock killed 58 and injured more than 515 people. [1]
Sonny Melton sacrificed his life to save his wife, Dr. Heather Gulish Melton during the shooting.
He used his body as human shield to protect Heather and prevent any bullets from hitting her. Due to Sonny's heroic actions, Heather survived the shooting without any injuries. However Sonny died that day from gunshot wounds.