Melvin Nathaniel Hairston (Moshe Nataniel ben Sarah) gained his angel wings on May 25, 2026, after a short but valiantly fought battle with lung cancer. He peacefully transitioned from this world in his sleep after a one day stay at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

He leaves behind to mourn his loss his adored and adoring wife of 55 years, CPT Peggy Hodge Hairston of the city; the apple-of-his-eye, his daughter, Yolanda Michelle Hairston Adar, his beloved son-in-law, Daniel Adar (né Edery),and his darling grand-dog, Taco all of Netanya, Israel; his daughter from his previous marriage, Vickie Hairston Gibbs Council (Jeff); forever son-in-law, Jessie Gibbs of Laurel, MD; his treasured grandchildren, Shay Adar (Marina Kosenkov) of Toronto, Canada and Gal Adar (Hofit Amrani) of Porto, Portugal; cherished and faithful nephew and nieces, Walter Mack, Mary Jones, Katina Jones Boyd, Joyce Mack, Tammy Johnson Hardin (Arthur), Valjean (Anthony) Johnson, and Anita Hairston all of Forsyth County, NC; a faithful aunt, Almetta Ivey of Charlotte, NC; dearly loved sisters and brother-in-law, Nora LaVerne DeSett of Stafford, VA and Arlene and Donald “Butch” Ingram of Martinsville, VA; and his dear niece and nephew, Yvonne Ingram of High Point, NC and Marques Ingram of Charlotte, NC; in addition, he leaves behind a multitude of extended loving family and friends, including Ernest Gardner, Harold Faulker, Lois and John Jones, Floyd and Renée Allen, Ida Cathey, Mary Toney, Carlos Fletcher, John Turner, Savannah Johnson, all of the men and women at American Legion Post 128 all of Winston-Salem, Shoshana Burman, Daniel’s mother of Ashdod, Israel, and Fred and Anita Finkleman of Netanya, Israel.

The seventh son of the late Sylvester and Sadie Ivey Hairston (ז״ל), Melvin was born on January 25, 1939, in Winston-Salem, NC. He graduated from Atkins High School, where he was an enthusiastic and engaged JROTC cadet. He later completed an associate degree from Winsalm Business College. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for nine years to the rank of Staff Sargent, during which time he trained and excelled as not only a Military Police Officer on duty in Mannheim, Germany, but also as a Truck Master in the Corps of Engineers, a Jungle Expert in Panama, and he served a tour of duty in war in Vietnam. In addition to many decorations and commendations, he received a National Defense Service Medal. Melvin was a loyal and steadfast fixture of the American Legion, and he loved to pour his time, efforts, and support into Post 128 of the city, where he served an extended tenure on the Executive Board as the Judge Advocate General. He retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., where he was a Machines Specialist and Instructor, with over 30 years of service and job accommodations, including the prestigious Joshua Award.

Melvin Hairston loved to travel with his wife and daughter. Edinburgh and London were his favorite cities, but his heart and soul belonged to the country of Israel, where he spent a great deal of time, from north to south. A self-proclaimed “busy bee,” he delighted in spending his leisure time road tripping with Peggy and friends to cheer on the WSSU Rams football team; being a Salem College Alumnae Dad, enjoying plays, live jazz and blues music; world history and cultures; gardening; cooking his renowned soups and beans; baking pies and cobblers; and laughing with friends– old and new. Melvin made friends easily with anyone and everywhere he went, and he never forgot a single one. He was a proud 32° Scottish Rite Freemason, holding the rank of Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.

What he loved most was his family. True to the Hairston family motto, “Toujours Fidèle” (“always faithful”), he was a completely devoted Husband, Father, and Uncle. He was not only the family patriarch, but the glue that held everyone together. Nothing gave him more pride and joy than his family, and his wife and daughter were paramount for him.

The funeral of Melvin Hairston will begin with a family visitation at 11:00am Friday, May 29, 2026, followed by the funeral service at 11:30am sharp at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel, 822 Carl Russell Avenue W-S, NC 27101. Rabbi Ariel Edery, the brother of Melvin’s son-in-law, will officiate, with Reverend Anthony Johnson as an esteemed speaker.  SSG Melvin Hairston’s Military Rites and Interment will be held at 10:00am Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in Salisbury National Cemetery 501 Statesville Blvd Salisbury, NC 28144.

Melvin deeply believed in community, charity, and acts of loving kindness. Donations in his memory can be made in his name to the American Cancer Society, the Greensboro Jewish Federation, and American Legion Post 128 of Winston-Salem. For those who wish to express their condolences through floral tributes, the family respectfully requests potted plants.

Zichrono livracha (זכרונו לברכה). May Melvin Hairston’s memory be a blessing.

אֶת־הַכֹּ֥ל עָשָׂ֖ה יָפֶ֣ה בְעִתּ֑וֹ גַּ֤ם אֶת־הָֽעֹלָם֙ נָתַ֣ן בְּלִבָּ֔ם מִבְּלִ֞י אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יִמְצָ֣א הָֽאָדָ֗ם אֶת־הַֽמַּֽעֲשֶׂ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים מֵרֹ֥אשׁ וְעַד־סֽוֹף

He has made everything beautiful in its time; also the [wisdom of] the world He put into their hearts, save that man should not find the deed which God did, from beginning to end.

-Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)