(Suwanee Democrat) – DALTON, Ga. — On a Saturday in October, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Meadors was in the right place at the right time to save a life.

That day, Melvin Boatwright and his wife, Debbie, were headed to Hamilton Medical Center to visit his sick mother when Melvin started having pain and then had a heart attack, forcing him to stop the car in the middle of the road.

Fortunately, Meadors pulled up behind the couple. Once Debbie explained what was happening, the deputy immediately began CPR on Melvin and gave Debbie, who doesn’t drive, instructions on how to move their car out of the road.

 “The deputy saved his life,” Melvin’s sister, Ida Murphy, later told The Daily Citizen, which subsequently honored Meadors as its Citizen of the Week.

“We’re so happy we didn’t lose Melvin,” Murphy said, noting that seven months earlier, another brother had died.

“We think Deputy Meadors is our guardian angel,” she said. “If it hadn’t been for him, we would’ve lost another brother.”

After Whitfield EMS arrived on the scene, the patient was turned over to them. Melvin underwent surgery to have blockages removed and is recovering.

Now, for that life-saving effort and his overall dedication to his job each day, Meadors has been chosen as Whitfield County Employee of the Month for October after being nominated by his supervisor, Capt. Rick Swiney.

 “The family was told by the doctor that Deputy Meadors’ quick response and performance of CPR helped to save Melvin’s life,” Swiney said on his nomination form. “The family invited Deputy Meadors to the hospital to meet them and thank him for helping Melvin. The family also sent a letter to Deputy Meadors.”
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