Saved from Death Row to Eternal Life

From the Archives: Winter 2011

Written by Mellott Faust

My father, when I was born in Mecklenburg County, named me “Mellott” after a French friend of his. My name is different, and I’ve lived a different kind of life than most folks.

After dropping out of school at a young age, I went north to Philly (Philadelphia, PA) to live with some relatives. I was there for six years but found my way back to Charlotte when my father became sick. After he passed away in 1959, I stayed in Charlotte to help my mother who had taken sick while I was in Philly.

Fateful Night, Life-Changing Consequences

One day at work I got a call to go see about her. It was a Friday night. I lived on the Southside of Charlotte and mom lived in the third ward so I had a distance to travel to get to her. It was about seven o’clock in the evening and I stopped off at a café and beer joint to see some of the guys I’d gone to school with. A girlfriend came into the café, and we had some laughs and danced some.

When I finally left to go see my mom, my girlfriend went with me. As we crossed the street, a policeman pulled up. He got out of his car and grabbed me. He questioned me for a long time. I finally asked him to either take me to jail or release me. He hit me, and, when my girlfriend told him that I hadn’t done anything, he hit her too. The policeman pulled his gun and in the struggle, I got the gun and shot him. He later died from the gunshot wound.

I was arrested, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to die in the gas chamber. The court granted me a new trial after the North Carolina School of Law looked into my case, but since the evidence had not changed, one of three execution dates was set. I spent four and a half years on death row. Gov. Terry Sanford ordered an investigation which resulted in my death sentence being commuted to life in prison.

Working My Way to a Better Life

I worked my way through prison starting in maximum security. During my incarceration, I went to cooking school and, until funds ran out, heating and air conditioning school. I was then sent to a medium security camp in 1974 where I met my first wife. Due to good conduct, I was on a community leave pass for 12-14 hours per month. I was finally granted a work release permit. I was married in prison and we had a son.

A chamber of commerce “prison community program” provided the opportunity to meet a lot of good people from different businesses while I was doing my time. Among them was the president of Merrill Lynch, jewelry sales people, and air traffic controllers. Those experiences were very encouraging to me.

Back to Prison

During my incarceration, I had a great perception of what I wanted to do when I got out. I thought once I was released I could make it because I was familiar with the outside world. Upon my release in October 1981, my wife and I lived the life of a regular family. We raised our son, visited with my mother and sisters and had friends over. It was good but there was a void. Eventually, I started drinking, again, and got involved with the wrong crowd. I never used drugs but began distributing them. I was arrested and was sentenced to seven years in a federal prison.

During the federal prison time, my wife and I divorced and our son lived in Greensboro. When I was released, I moved down to Greensboro to be near him. While living there, I met my wife, Brenda. Her niece and my son were in the same graduating class. We hit it off right away. Brenda was a Christian and when I would come to Ashe County with her, she always took me to church. My parole officer saw I was heading in the wrong direction, again, and encouraged me to move to Ashe County.

He Saved Me from Myself

The Lord started dealing with me before I ever moved here. He saved me in June of 1996. He saved me from myself. I realize every day now how the Lord has blessed me. He has blessed me to be able to tie my shoes even though there are aches and pains. His word said it wouldn’t be easy but I am to pick up my cross and follow him. Brenda and I were married in December 1996.

My mother was a godly woman who prayed for me for years. When I met Brenda, she was always talking to me about the Bible. It made me think of my mother. Brenda was not my “normal cup of tea” but I knew my mother would approve. When I met Brenda, I put everything behind me. She helped me come to a life that I saw years ago but didn’t know how to get to.

I don’t miss the big city, that’s way behind me now. I live in the present, not the past. I’ve come to love time spent with God and like-minded people. I’m open to learn and take advantage of every opportunity to understand the Bible. I can see more clearly now where I’m headed. Amazing Grace was for me. I once was lost but now I’m found....was blind but now I see. Clearly, now, I can see what God’s done for me. I was a prisoner but now I’m free.