John Melvin Nixon

John Melvin Nixon, 86, of Gastonia, passed away in Green Cove Springs, Florida, following a period of declining health.

Mr. Nixon was born on April 27, 1939, to the late John Henry Nixon and Nina Mae Nixon. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy and later worked as a commercial electrician throughout the region. During his career, he contributed to numerous large projects, including Bank of America Stadium and the Belk Theatre.

He was a faithful member of Firestone Wesleyan Church in Gastonia, where his love for the Lord and his church family was evident in both his life and his actions. Mr. Nixon enjoyed fishing, building, carpentry, and “piddling” around the house working on various projects. He was also an avid sports fan, especially of the UNC Tar Heels and the Carolina Panthers.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth Nixon; daughter Tracey Nixon, his granddaughter, Zaia Griffith; and two brothers, Bill Nixon and Bruce Nixon.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Greg Nixon and wife Mary, Kristi Griffith and husband Tim, and Jesse Gibson. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Stacy, Kodie, Ally, Kaleb, Desmond, Chassity, Christian, Ryan, Jessica, Nathan and Ella; 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 1:00 PM in the chapel of Benson Funeral & Cremation Service, Mt. Holly, with Rev. Chris Stadler officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Benson Funeral Service.

A committal service with military honors will be held on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 12:30 PM at Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina.501 Statesville Blvd. Salisbury, NC 28144.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Firestone Wesleyan Church, 1700 Union Rd. Gastonia, NC 28054.

Benson Funeral & Cremation Service of Mt. Holly is honored to serve the Nixon family.