A few things I remember...

I think of Melisa everyday! I have a picture of Boo, Aidan and Melisa on my dresser (Which was a Christmas card) and I have the earrings she gave me, hanging on the picture, from when they got back from Russia with Aidan. They are so pretty and of course she got me pink, my favorite color. I miss her dearly and tend to cry every time I think about her. I remember a few funny things about working at Rain or Shine with Melisa.
Pebbles, everyone remembers Pebbles.. That bird was so attached to Melisa and somehow when she opened the kids store, Pebbles got attached to me.. He would follow me around when I would clean the beds. I swear he was a dog at heart. Melisa would laugh every time she came in the store because Pebbles was usually right beside me or on me.. ha!
I remember when I was pregnant working at the tanning bed, She would always laugh at me because I ate so much.. When we would order sandwiches from down the street, she would be sure to say "she wants a WHOLE not a HALF sandwich, she's eating for TWO" :)
Melisa was like my second mom and I love her dearly! She was a wonderful person and I know God put her in my life to make me the woman I am today!

Love you Boo and Aidan,
Meghan Eldridge

When I think about Christmas and the Matthews family I always think about Mel's collection of Radko (sp??) ornaments...she has SO SO many and they are all so beautiful and magical feeling! I was able to help Aidan decorate their tree this year and it was so special to put all of Mel's ornaments on the tree.

-Kenley

Sweet Impression

I personally do not know Melisa very much. However, she has left sweet, long-lasting impression in my daughter's heart. Grace, my daughter, was in her Sunday School (SS) class when we first visited Starkville First United Methodist Church several years ago. Grace loved Melisa as her SS teacher; Melisa always welcomed her back even though Grace was only a visitor. Grace was sad when I broke the news about Melisa's passing. Yesterday Grace asked if she could come to the visitation. So, she and I went (and the rest of my family). Grace looked at Melisa for the last time and said, "Mommy, we will see her again in heaven". Yes, indeed. All of us who believes in Jesus will be reunited with Melisa one day ...

Sandra Woolfolk

Prayers are with you from Jumpertown United Methodist Church

Boo,

I just want to know you and Aiden are in our prayers at Jumpertown Methodist Chruch. We know you are very special to Bro. Jason and his family. Our church family is here for you. May God Bless you through this very hard time.

In His Name,
Amy Moore
Jumpertown Methodist

Melisa was one of our son's Sunday School teachers. He always enjoyed the days she taught; he said she was a good teacher. We've prayed for her during her battle with cancer. On Sunday, as we discussed her death and all that it means for her and for her family, Ben shared his thoughts on it. He said something like this... "I think it's neat that Mrs. Melisa died and went to heaven today because today is JOY Sunday." (On the the third Sunday in Advent we celebrate the Joy we have in Jesus.) He continued, "And we've been talking in church about how joy is deeper than happiness and how we can have joy even when we aren't happy... so it is neat that she gets to go to heaven on Joy Sunday." I've enjoyed getting to know Melisa and Boo through our VBS program, and so appreciate her giving to Ben and other kids through our children's ministry at FUMC. She had a special way with the kids. And so does Boo! We will continue to pray for you and Aiden.
Linda Griffith

God Bless This Angel!!

God Bless Melisa!!

Boo & Aidan, our prayers and love are with you!!

Will & Stephanie Arnett

Boo, when I think of Melisa, I will always think of her smile. Her eyes smiled before her lips ever moved! Everyone liked or loved Melisa...she was a people person with so much warmth. Years ago, in one of our conversations at 'Rain or Shine', we were laughing about something we had heard. My comment to her was, "You're so sweet, but, you're feisty! I like feisty!" That was Melisa and so very much more. My love and prayers are with you and Aiden.

Arline Romanoff

Boo,

So sorry for your loss, but, of course, it's Heaven's gain. It was a privilege to know such a strong, caring, kind person as Melisa. Just a few days before her hospitalization, I visited with her at Dandee Doodlez. She and Aidan were painting Christmas presents. As usual, she was focused on others and not herself. I feel that I am a better person for knowing her and witnessing her faith, love, and hope. Sometimes I feel so inadequate in what medicine can achieve, but I have found that even with terminal illness, people like Melisa can actually be models of what each of us should be. I loved her and will remember her always. Jaynie

Sparkling eyes that Twinkled and smiled whenever she greeted you, talked about Boo and their sweet boy Aiden, and took care of the needs of her friends that came to her store---that is one thing I will always remember about Melisa. I've been able to see love in all that she and Boo do for each other and for those around them and it makes me want to follow that example. Their example is God and the love He gave them to share (which they do. Thank you Melisa and Boo for letting me be part of your life. Melisa I'll be honored to keep helping Boo with Aiden when he is sick; thankyou for your smile, your trust, and your courage (and fight). I'll miss you but I'll see you again someday. Ellen

Melissa was the first individual to give me a book signing in Starkville. My book, "Go Mommy Go" was perfect for the type of store she had but was also PERFECT for the person who owned Polka Tots. Melissa ALWAYS talked about Aiden and how wonderful it was to be a mommy. She glowed with joy everytime she mentioned her precious son. Melissa was surrounded by so much love, (Boo and Aiden) and she let everyone know that. I will always remember Melissa as a very happy and sweet friend who loved life--I will also remember Melissa as a TRUE "Go Mommy Go!"
Thank you Melissa!
Love, Corey martin

If I recall it correctly, it was either first Christmas or first Boo's Birthday after he and Melisa got married. The exact time is not important, but what is important is the fact that Melisa gave Boo a brand new Red Ryder BB gun rifle! To some, this might seem insignificant, but to all of us men who never really grew up, it is a proof of ultimate love, wife can have for her husband. And wisdom as well, since smart wives know that all what husbands ask in return for being there, is little play time. Laugh at me or not, but I knew right then, that Melisa and Boo are going to make it. I am glad I was right.

Tibor Pechan.

Like Meghan I don't know where to start! I started working for Melisa when I was 15 years old. Going through all the awkward years of highschool, she became a second mom. She always knew before I did what I did wrong(that had a lot to do with how close she was to her employees). The week I started working for Melisa was the week she brought Aidan home from Russia. I did not know Melisa before she had Aidan in her life, but her love for him always inspired me. I loved listening to her stories about all the funny things Aidan does like naming his elf on a shelf Bobby Jones or asking for giant blow ups every Christmas. Melisa made Christmas so special for Aidan that he wanted it to be Christmas year round. The first day she opened Polka Tots I was working and we were so excited. She always had the most creative ideas on how to improve the store and how to make it a place for families. She loved her family more then anything. Melisa taught me so many things about working, but most of all taught me how a beautiful Christian woman should live! We will miss you Melisa!

Olivia Hogue

My Second Mom

Where do I begin?! Melisa is pretty much my second mom. I worked at Rain or Shine for 4 years. I went through the whole adoption process with Melisa and Boo to get sweet Aiden. I saw the struggles and heartache and can tell you Aiden is a true blessing to them. I remember when they left to get Aiden, Melisa said to me "the tanning bed is in your hands, if it burns down, we will deal with it and you when we get back" ha! I also remember when they got back and Boo brought Aiden to the tanning bed. I think we were all over come with joy to see Aiden, we cried! Melisa was my mom away from home and went through my pregnancy with me while I worked at Rain or Shine. She was always my biggest support system and had my back on everything. She would always give me advice on how to handle the madness that came along with everything at that time in my life. I have been blessed to spend these last four weeks with her. I live in Jackson so I got to visit her every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the past four weeks. I am grateful that I had the chance to spend that time with her and Boo and tell them how much they mean to me. I am half the woman/mother/friend I am today because of Melisa. You will forever be in my heart.

Meghan Eldridge

I met Melisa in 2003 when I applied for a job at Rain or Shine toward the end of my freshman year of college. I worked at Rain or Shine for the next 3 years on and off. The first year I worked at Rain or Shine I probably worked 3 to 4 days a week. 2 of those days were morning shifts and I pretty much always worked with Melisa. We quickly bonded over many similar interests - MSU basketball, tennis and shared our lives. Without realizing it, she taught me so much about providing excellent customer service. She had a high standard for her employees and I loved that about her. She was such a beautiful person on the inside and out. I also loved watching her interact with Boo. I could always see the love that they had for each other. They showed me what a happy and loving marriage could look like. She brought out the best in a person and in me. My sophomore year I worked on campus and only filled in at Rain or Shine every now and then. My senior year, Melisa had just opened Polka Tots, and I hardly worked directly with her anymore. I can honestly say that I never enjoyed working at Rain or Shine more than when I was working with Melisa.

I only found about Melisa 3 days ago. I'm still in shock. She will be so deeply missed. Even as hard as it is, I am so thankful that I will see Melisa again in heaven.

-Carey (Tichenor) Grisham

I've known Melisa since my high school/early college days of working for Reagan Ford, when she was a patient. She was always, always THE sweetest person, and incredibly beautiful both inside and out. There's something special about a physically-beautiful woman who doesn't know she's beautiful. And Boo, I've known...I guess always. Our families knew each other before we existed. So when Angie Crosland told me Boo and Melissa had started dating, I smiled HUGELY. What a perfect pair!

I remember a quote from an old movie. It seems to be fitting in Melisa's case: "How lucky I am to have known someone that to say goodbye was so damned awful."

Walk to Emmaus

My most significant memory of Melisa was her presence at my Walk to Emmaus in October 2008. Mel worked as a "Tray Toter" during my Walk, and she was without a doubt the most important person to me all that weekend. I felt a very special connection with her. During her battle with cancer, she and Boo met with my husband, David, a couple of times. David performed one of her biopsies early on. Later, Boo and Melisa asked him to review some of Melisa's studies. Although he did not have good news for them, I was so impressed by the positive attitude and strength they both showed. What a great testimony to their faith. I will always admire them both, and I will never forget Melisa... she is special.

-Jan Morgan

Festival of Lights

I met Melisa, Boo and Aidan at church. Melisa always went the extra mile with everything that she did for the children's ministry at FUMC. She loved working VBS! Today, I stopped by the church to pick tickets up for tomorrow night's Festival of Lights program. To my surprise and excitement, a DVD of last year's performance was with my tickets. I was unable to attend last year's performance due to a family need in Florida and I missed seeing my daughter perform with the youth choir. Tonight I had the joy of watching last year's program. Mel and Aidan are sitting on the front pew smiling, singing, and clapping to the beautiful Christmas music and story. Mel looks so angelic and strong with her sparkling eyes and big smile and Aidan is so happy. She is truly a beautiful lady and will be missed. I'm so happy that I had the opportunity to know Mel!

~ Lisa Hearn

I will really miss Melisa

I met Melisa 15 - 20 years ago when she first opened Rain or Shine. She did nails for a little while in the beginning, and she did my nails. (I was thinking about that earlier today and wondered what I was thinking getting my nails done while I was in college - I had no money..... Guess that's where some of that student loan money went!!) As many of you women know, you can get to know a person really well over the course of a few manicures. She was always so much fun to talk to, and she always really cared about whatever we were talking about. She gave me lots of good advice, and she let me in on her life, too. I have great memories of those talks we had. I've always admired her. After the manicure days, I didn't see her as often, but when I did see her around town, we always stopped and chatted. Even though we had "just" met over manicures in earlier years, it was always great to catch up with her, even for just a quick conversation. I reconnected with her over the past few years since Aidan and my youngest, Cooper, went to daycare together at FUMC. I was (and am) so happy they are friends. I will really miss Melisa. She is so special.

P.S. Melisa's eyes really sparkle and twinkle when she laughs. I have always noticed that about her...

-Kathy Snell

The Santa collection...

Well, the first time I met Melisa was when I lived next door to her in college. I roomed with her sister-n-law. I just remember that she had the most AMAZING collection of Santas I had EVER seen. They were all beautiful and beautifully displayed...even then I thought this lady should have a store...this is gorgeous! As the years passed I got to know Melisa and Boo on a much deeper level. I got to be a close observer as they went through the process of adopting their precious baby boy. I remember thinking that he even looked a bit like Boo and how AMAZING God was to give them this precious child! But one of my fondest memories of Melisa is the 40th birthday party she threw for Boo. She did not leave one detail out. It was just so fun to see her beaming when she had pulled one over on him. Just seeing the love she had for her husband and her family was so very encouraging. My marriage has always been challenged by observing their love, strength and commitment to each other. Thank you Melisa for your beautiful life and for the way you allowed God to use you even when you may not have known it. She faced NUMEROUS challenges but there was never a time that I remember seeing her that she did not have a smile beaming on her face. You will leave a great LEGACY of faith and strength to your son.

You will be DEEPLY missed!

Kerri Wardlaw

Sooooo one of the first times (if not THE first time) I met Melissa I slammed her hand in a sliding door and broke all of her fingers (seriously, they were purple and green in like 30 seconds!). Beat that. But hey, i just wanted to make sure she had something that would never go away to always remind her of me (aka scars across her fingers that are still there today.) So we didn't start off on the best foot but she forgave me (or at least made me believe that she did) :) and Mel soon became a welcomed and much loved addition to our family. No matter how bad Melisa has felt these past few years she always asks how I am or if I need anything...not to mention she raised she most precious boy on this entire planet (which I know the manners he does have have nothing to do with Boo...)
I am sure I will share many more memories as the days go by...

-Kenley

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