Melissa "Mia" Marie Carlin

Melissa Marie Carlin, beloved “Mia” to her friends and cherished “Aunt Dy” to her nieces and nephews, passed peacefully into the palm of God’s hands on September 1st, 2025 at 2:37 pm. At 48 years old, she completed her earthly assignment with the same fierce grace and unwavering spirit that defined her remarkable life.

Born on March 7th, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida to Samuel Castine Carlin and Suzanne Stites, Mia was a firecracker from the very beginning—a spark that would illuminate countless lives throughout her journey. She graduated from Englewood High School in 1995, and her love for the ocean led her to make the beaches her home throughout her adult life. Even as a young child, she faced extraordinary challenges with uncommon courage, being diagnosed with a rare blood disease that made headlines across Jacksonville. This early battle would forge the warrior spirit that would carry her through life’s greatest storms.

Mia’s creative soul found expression through the performing arts from age five, beginning her career as an actress in local plays and musicals. Her passion for storytelling evolved into a multifaceted artistic journey that spanned decades—from musical theater at Boomtown Theatre to her work as a freelance writer and rock journalist for Movement Magazine. She was the voice behind memorable musical collaborations, including her work with bands Episode 26 and Future Ancestors, and her recent emergence as a solo artist with her anticipated debut album “Red Bottom Shoes.”

In July 2016, Mia faced her greatest adversary when diagnosed with stage 3A ovarian cancer. What followed was a nine-year battle marked not by surrender, but by extraordinary resilience. Through four recurrences, countless treatments, surgeries, and six near-death experiences, Mia refused to let cancer define her story. Instead, she transformed her pain into purpose, her trauma into triumph, and her struggle into song.

As she courageously shared in her own words: “I am a Reclaimer—of stories, of symbols, of silence. Through music, film, and visual art, I give voice to the unspoken—the trauma buried under glamor, the ache masked by performance, the truth hidden beneath shame.” Her upcoming album “Red Bottom Shoes” stood as testament to her belief that art could heal, that vulnerability could inspire, and that sharing one’s truth could light the path for others walking through darkness.

Mia’s spiritual journey deepened through her trials, leading her to create “Eclectic Blessings,” a business that bridged metaphysical practices with Christian traditions. She personally blessed each creation, embodying her belief that we are “heavenly beings having an earthly experience.” Her profound Facebook reflection during her final hospital stay revealed a soul at peace: “I’m content. I’m at peace. I’m grateful, I’m loved & most of all, I’m happy. And that’s all that really matters now, isn’t it?”

Friends remember Mia as a force of nature—her infectious laugh, her loyal heart, and her ability to find joy even in the darkest moments. She was the friend who made every gathering feel like “Club Mia,” the travel companion who turned ordinary trips into adventures, and the soul who loved vibing with friends in her beloved “Zen Den.” Her “crazy fun demeanor” and generous spirit created a legacy of love that extends far beyond her years.

Mia is survived by her brother Samuel Castine Carlin Jr. and sister Tracey Leigh Carlin. She leaves behind her beloved nieces Suzanne Stratton, Caroline Carlin, and Sarah Carlin, and nephews Trey Dunlap, Julian Isham, and Aaron Hammons, all of whom knew the special magic of having “Aunt Dy” in their corner.

Her final message to the world echoed the wisdom she gained through suffering transformed into strength: “You can be the strength that somebody needs to see from what you’re going through right now… it doesn’t matter if you’re sick, it doesn’t matter if you use it, it doesn’t matter even when you die. You could have a legacy.”

Mia Carlin lived as she died—authentically, courageously, and with an unshakeable faith that her story, however unfinished it might seem, was already making the impact she dreamed of. She was proof that reclaiming your story is “the most dangerous and beautiful revolution there is.”

This is not the end of Mia’s story—this is survival, set to music, echoing in the hearts of everyone she touched. Her legacy lives on in every person she inspired to keep fighting, keep creating, and keep believing that even our deepest pain can become our greatest gift to the world.

“This isn’t just music. This is reclamation.”

— Mia Carlin

The family asks that you simply take a moment to tell someone you love them—Mia would have loved that most of all.

Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Sunday, September 7, 2025 at Hardage-Giddens St Johns Funeral Home, 1285 St. Johns Parkway, St. Johns, FL with visitation held 1 hour prior to service at the chapel. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL. Please post words of comfort at www.hgstjohns.com.