This wonderful girl took a piece of my heart in 9th grade and never let it go. I can still remember our first date, to see "Ten Little Indians" at the Andrews theater. She was the cutest little thing you ever saw, and so genuine and kind. I'm sure she hadn't a mean bone in her body. She is intertwined in so many of my Surrattsville memories, building homecoming floats, dances, track & cross country scorekeepers. Look at this great photo of her pretending to cross the finish line with Carrie Jesse, Susan Miller, Gerri Stalnaker and Terry Profilet. We stayed in touch over the years, meeting up a few times. She even came to Miami to console me after my first wife passed away in 1995. I'll never forget her standing at the airport with her long blonde hair blowing in the wind. So beautiful. Such a good friend, getting my house to rights, playing with my daughter, and putting a patch or two on my broken heart. I don't think she ever stopped being a hippie. Or being lovable. Even though I haven't seen you in years, I will miss you forever. Love, Dave

Melissa was my dearest friend. Both of us took a break from our college experience and lived with a household of folks in Orlando FL. We worked as the first employees at Walt Disney World! Over the years there were visits to each other's locations. She only missed one of my many abodes, but I stayed at all three of hers! We shared letters, postcards (all saved and often re-read), phone calls, texts, and even a boyfriend!  She was a big influencer in my life. She enjoyed and respected what this world offered and gave back a gentle sweetness. She had so many friends and I am lucky to have been one of them. Her time with us was too short and I miss her every day. I always think of Sweet Melissa with the phrase "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever."