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Melissa Hale Matthews,
Melissa Hale Matthews
Melissa Hale Matthews, 39, of Watkinsville, died at home Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, after a courageous 3 year battle with breast cancer.
Melissa was born in Athens, on Feb. 4, 1970, the youngest child of Billy and Gloria Hale, and grew up in the Five Points neighborhood. She attended Barrow Elementary School and Clarke Middle School, and graduated from Clarke Central High School in 1988. She earned both a B.A. in Psychology (1992) and a Masters in School Counseling (1998) from the University of Georgia. She served as a school counselor at Walker Park Elementary School in Walton County, Georgia through 2003.
While earning her masters degree, Melissa worked at SunTrust Bank where she met the love of her life, Rob Matthews. They married on Nov. 5, 2000. The greatest joy of their life was the birth of their daughter, Macey, in 2004.
Melissa loved her life and was devoted to her husband, daughter, family, and friends. She was a lifelong, dedicated member of Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church, where she served on various committees and was active in the United Methodist Women organization. She was known for her infectious smile and passion for life, and especially enjoyed annual family beach trips to St. Simons and Hilton Head.
Melissa is survived by her husband, Rob Matthews and daughter, Macey of Watkinsville; parents, Billy and Gloria Hale of Athens; brother, Bill Hale, his wife Allison and daughters, Emmeline and Isabelle of Athens; brother, Mark Hale, his wife Anitra and children Sadie and Hudson of Athens; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Rhoda Matthews of Athens; and sister-in-law, Terry Matthews (surviving spouse of Jim Matthews) and their sons, Jimmy and Jackson of Greenville, S.C.
Services were held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13 at Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Alan Smith officiating.
Flowers are optional and memorials may be made to Young Harris UMC or the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support.
Lord and Stephens, WEST, is in charge of arrangements.
The Walton Tribune
August 16, 2009
Published August 16, 2009
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