Melissa Leigh H. Ard

Melissa Leigh Ard, 44, passed away Tuesday. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016 at 11 a.m. at graveside in Macon Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Rex Odom will officiate. The family will greet friends from 6 – 8 p.m., Thursday at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Pio Nono.

Melissa was born in Macon, daughter of David and Molly Hudson. She played on the Bloomfield Senior League Allstars in Waycross, GA August 7 – 8, 1987 where they won their first ever Georgia Recreation and Park Society State Softball Championship. The team manager was Julian Lashley and coached by her father, David Hudson and Jimmy Wilder. Melissa also played softball at Windsor Academy while attending 8th, 9th and 10th grades. After graduation, she played on a travel softball team. Melissa also displayed her strong athletic ability on the Macon Waves Team on 10 year and 11 year olds. Melissa was a member of Heritage at Bass United Methodist Church.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of twenty-five years, Chris Ard; daughters, Courtney (Josh) Jones, Molly Kate Ard; son, Austin (Stephanie) Ard, grandchildren Conner Ard, Parker Jones and Stetson Ard; parents, David and Molly Hudson; brother, Stew (Melissa) Hudson; several cousins, a nephew and two nieces.

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Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Pio Nono Avenue has charge of arrangements.