Melissa Matthews

Melissa M. Matthews (née Wilkerson), age 44, of Kettering, Ohio, passed away October 6, 2015. Melissa was a loving mother to her daughter, Makayla Matthews, and cherished the close bonds she shared with her family: her fiancé, Kenneth Carroll; her parents, James and Carol Wilkerson; sister Lori Byrd; grandmother Jean Irvin; and her niece and goddaughter Heather Overbay. She was also fondly remembered by many other relatives and friends, and by her beloved dog, “Dizzy D.”

Born July 22, 1971, Melissa cared deeply for those close to her and valued family gatherings and simple moments spent together. Those who knew her recall a woman who made space in her life for the people she loved and who found comfort in everyday routines and connections. Her daughter, Makayla, was central to her life and remained a source of pride and affection.

Family received friends on October 12, 2015, at Newcomer Funeral Home in Beavercreek. A memorial service and interment followed at Valley View Memorial Gardens in Xenia, where relatives and friends gathered to honor Melissa’s life and the quiet, steadfast ways she showed love.

Melissa is remembered not only by her immediate family but by a wider circle of friends who will carry forward memories of her tenderness, loyalty, and the ordinary kindnesses that marked her days. Her family asks that those who wish to honor her memory remember the importance of reaching out to loved ones and cherishing the time spent together.

May Melissa’s memory be a blessing to her daughter, family, and all who loved her.