Order of Service 
The Reverend Terence Renard Gray, Presiding 
 
In Loving Memory Of 
 
Prelude 
 
Mr. Melvin C. Welch "Percy" 
 
Processional <&Final Glance...................... ..Ministers, Pallbearers, and Family 
 
Hymn of Comfort..................''Pass Me Not"..................The Choir and Congregation 
 
Prayer of Consolation................. ........................................... ....R ev. LaFayette Samuel 
 
Liturgy of the word Old Testam ent................................................................... New Testament.................................................. 
 
....JuanitaPrice BarryDarnell 
 
Solo................. ....................................... .................... ........................... ..... Vanessa Welch 
 
O bituary...................................... ..(Read S ile n tly )..........* ........................Soft Music 
 
Special Tribute to a B rother.......... ...............................................Bishop Robert Welch 
 
Acknowledgem ent...................................... J ............ ........ ......................... ...Fay Talton 
 
Rem arks............................................. ............ .. .......................... ......... Gary Montgomery 
 
I 
 
BarryDarnell 
 
Remarks........................... (3 minutes please)...........................Other Friends <&Family 
 
Solo......................... 
 
....... ........ .............. ........Essence Reynolds 
 
"/ have fought a goodfight, I have finished my course, I have kept thefaith. " 
II Timothy 4:7 
 
E ulogy................ **Hyirm of Assurance Recessional................... 
Interm ent................ . 
 
,*............................Pastor Terence R. Gray 
i 
l 
J 
(i Ministers, Pallbearers, and Family 
..............W oodiawn Memorial Park Macon, Georgia 
i 
 
Saturday, February 14,2004 
Two O ' Clock P. M. 
Ida Carson Bentley 
Memorial Chapel 
Macon, Georgia 
 
* * A U Sl'AND/NG 
 
Repast 
2830 Cherry Avenue 
 
Pastor Terence R. Gray 
Officiating 
 
 A 
The Back Door Man 
 
Pallbea rers 
James Maxwell Jeff Talton 
Matthew Brown Albert Murphy B arry Darnell Gary Montgomery 
 
P e r c y W e l c h -- E n t e r t a in m e n t B io 
 
1950 - 
 
Began playing drums with the Gladys Williams Band. 
 
1952 1959 - 
 
Began playing with Little Richard in Macon. Percy recorded and released the single "Back Door Man" on f ran Records. 
 
I960- 
 
Melvin (Percy) Welch and his orchestra became the house band for the 
 
Royal Peacock Lounge in Atlanta, supporting such acts as Joe Tex, John 
 
Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Etta James, Nappy Brown, Aretha Franklin, 
 
Gladys Knight, Harvey and the Moon Glows, Jerry Butler, The Drifters 
 
and other national touring acts from Universal Attractions -New' \ ork City. 
 
1965. - 
 
Signed with Phil Walden and Associates for bookings throughout the south 
 
cast. 1965 -1 9 6 6 - Promoted the first Otis Redding homecoming shows at the Macon City 
 
Auditorium. 1966 -1970 - Owned two night dubs in Macon, The Jazz Club and the Fabulous Lounge. 
 
1971 to 1979 - Percy toured with Harvey and the Moon Glows and Etta James, opened the 
 
1980'$ ~~ 
 
Welch Lounge. Recorded and released several singles and was an annual and featured per 
 
2003- 
 
former at Macon's Cherry Blossom Festival. Completed recording his solo album which is dedicated to his wife Doris, 
 
release date, 2004. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
W hen it seemed that our loss W as too great to bear, W e looked up and our Friends were there. 
W ith food, flowers, and words W ritten and spoken, W ith faces smiling And hearts open. 
You com forted us and shared our grief We pray that God will bless 
And keep you, granting all relief. 
O u r gratitude cannot be Adequately expressed, 
W ith mere words, but they are The best we have. 
"Thank Y ou" for lifting the cloud And letting the sun shine through , 
Arrangements Entrusted To Bentley & Sons Funeral Home 
2714 Montpelier Avenue Macon, Georgia 478 742-0952 
 
 giEOftpa XfEgflcr `Fowrfim'Piotf 
Newton Collier 
President 
1212 Gray Highway #1117 Macon, Georgia 31211 (478) 501-2106 newtcoll@hotmail.com