Melissa Michelle Smith was born on January 16, 1968, to parents Michael and Jana Smith. She entered into eternal rest on August 10, 2021 at the age of 53. Melissa was a lively, outgoing woman with a huge heart for others. She married her best friend, Mikeal Smith in Athens on June 21, 1997 and they began their life’s journey together. Melissa was a dedicated wife, devoted mother and adoring grandmother. She loved teaching the next generation of young minds and loved to read in her spare time. Once a month, she and her First Grade Teacher’s team would meet at Jalapeno Tree and spend hours visiting, laughing and sharing their wisdom and experiences with their school children. Melissa was also a part of the MISfits, her Mabank Intermediate School group of teacher friends, they enjoyed spending time together, doing just about anything, going to dinner, painting and many other activities. Melissa was in Education for 30 years, teaching for the first 2 decades and then moving into the administrative capacity as Assistant Principal and ultimately Principal before retiring in 2020. Melissa also loved to sing and she lead music at church. She was a member of Legendary Baptist Church of Gun Barrel City, where she enjoyed worshipping and fellowship with her church family.
Melissa was preceded in death by her father, Michael Smith. She is survived by her husband, Mikeal Smith; children, Desiree Nicole, Jonathan Ryan and Michael David; grandchildren, Dominick Smith-Wheeler and Carter Smith; mother, Jana Goebel; mother and father in law, William and Betty Smith; brother in law, David Smith; and sister in law, Lisa Muirhead and husband Greg.
