barbecue

Kenny Melear, one of Fayette’s most well-known community leaders, passed away Thursday morning. He was 86.

A Fayetteville resident for more than half a century, Melear, a Newnan native, moved to town after establishing his already-successful Melear’s Barbecue restaurant. Melear and his barbecue house would become landmarks for the South Atlanta region. When national politicians visited the area, they made sure to have their picture taken at Melear’s.

When Georgia Congressman Newt Gingrich was installed as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995, Melear and a few of his friends, including current Fayetteville City (more…)