Melissa D. Garcia

Melissa D. Garcia, 39, of Morganton, NC passed away with her family by her side on Wednesday, December 3, 2014.  Born in Burke County, NC on June 6, 1975, she was the daughter of Phillip and Marlene Garcia of Morganton.  Melissa attended First Baptist Church in Valdese.  She was a 1993 graduate of Freedom High School.  She then went on to earn her B. S. Degree from UNC Wilmington where she was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma.  After Melissa’s graduation she worked at Burke County Social Services.  Everything she did after college was in service to others.  She was a dedicated and loving mother and had an amazing smile that was contagious.

In addition to her parents, Melissa is survived by her daughter, Carlee Mae Garcia of the home; a brother, Scotty Garcia, and his wife, Debbie McDermott, of Durham, NC; uncles, Nolan Murrell, Everett Murrell, Thomas Cain, Lonnie Cain, and Stillman Cain; and aunts, Linda Mattson and Diane Jeffery.

Melissa was preceded in death by her grandparents, Dorothy Murrell, Michael and Peggy Garcia; her great-grandmother, Charlsie Shed; and an uncle, Frank Murrell.

A celebration of Melissa’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 2014, in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center with the Rev. Allison Pryor officiating.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the North Carolina School for the Deaf Foundation, P.O. Box 1397, Morganton, NC 28680 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.

Condolences may be made online at www.sossomanfuneralservice.com.