Mr. Melvin Lee Davis, age 80, of East Dublin died Monday, April 10, 2017.

He was born in Treutlen County and was preceded in death by his parents, Hilton Davis and Agnes Brantley Davis Barwick, step-father, Tullie Barwick, brother, Menzo Davis, and sister, Lizzie Jane Hester.  He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and was a retired Civil Engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation after thirty-four years of service.  He was of the Baptist faith.

Melvin was known as a goodwill ambassador for the East Dublin "Redneck Games".  This position led him to be interviewed on several television shows including The History Channel's "What You Don't Know About Dixie", Maury Povich's "Odd Couple", Steve Harvey's "Good Time Show", WMAZ TV's "Bobbin For Pig's Feet" with Suzanne Lawler, Good Morning America, Liars & Legends, Small Town Secrets, BBC's "Redneck Games", and Smithsonian's "Wild and Wacky".  He was also featured in many magazine articles in the USA as well as in other countries.

Melvin was also a lover of mud bogging.  He and his solid orange Chevrolet truck knows as "Granelda" held the world record for a period of time for the fastest time in a mud track in Naples, FL.  His pride and joy was his latest edition known as "The Ride", a homemade three-wheel trike also called "The Redneck Limousine".  With "Granelda" and "The Ride" he has 375 trophies and plaques that he won at mud bogs and car shows.  He would also often win "The People's Choice" awards.

He especially loved children and they loved him as well.  He was a lover of life and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Jerry Sammons Davis; son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Debbie Davis of Dublin; grandchildren, Haley (Andrew) Rogers and Lacey Evans; great-grandchildren, Madelyn Rogers, Anna Rogers, Maddox Evans and Rayna Evans; brother-in-law, Gene (Edwina) Hester of Soperton; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted in the Chapel of Sammons Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 13, with the Reverend Nolon McDaniel officiating. Burial will be in Westview Cemetery, Soperton.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 6—8 p.m.