Melissa Perry Roe, 78, of Chappells, passed away Wednesday, July 2, .2025 at Greenwood Regional Rehab Hospital.

Melissa Caroline Perry Roe was born on Sunday, September 1, 1946 to Thomas Edwin Perry and Caroline Murphy Perry in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father had just returned from World War II where he was stationed in Europe. He was accepted into the Dental School at the University of Tennessee in Memphis and along came Melissa! When Melissa was two, her father would take her with him to the dental practice labs on Saturdays and give her a bar of soap and a spoon so she could do what he was doing while he practiced his tooth carving techniques. Melissa always said that this led to her future vocation. Her Mother had other plans for her and started her in dance classes at age 3. She was one of the first of the Baby Boomer Generation, a Conservative Thinker, a Lover of The United States of America, believed in Jesus Christ, lived by the word of the Bible, and Glorified God as her Savior.

Melissa was short in stature at 5'2", but was tall on enthusiasm, intelligence, organization, compassion, and love of life. She found the "love of her life" in Roy Edmond Roe and they were married on August 4th, 1984. She was already the mother of two wonderful and successful children, Brock Crawford Crowley (who is married to Amy Love Crowley) and Caroline Blaire Reyes. It gave her joy when Melissa was blessed with grandchildren. She loved to spoil her two talented and smart grandchildren, Madison Shea Brown and Tyler Preston Crowley. Loving her husband, raising children and spoiling her grandchildren were definitely at the top of what made her the happiest.

Melissa was also very proud of the many things she had accomplished besides being a wife, parent and grandparent. She had a lot of energy and drive and was always looking for ways to better her profession and enjoy life. Melissa was a two time graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene in 1968 and a Master of Science Degree with Honors in 1984. She was instrumental in establishing the Dental Hygiene Associate Degree Programs in 1969 at Macon College in Macon, Georgia and the Dental Hygiene Associate Degree Program at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee in 1971. It was a new generation for the growth and expansion of Dental Hygiene Education and she was one of the pioneers. She went on to teach at Guilford Technical Institute in Greensboro, NC ; Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, NC; as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of North Carolina, while working on her Master's Degree; and Pensacola State College in Pensacola Florida for 17 years. At Pensacola State College she was named an Outstanding Faculty Member twice, was inducted into the National Academy of Teaching Excellence and attained the rank of Full Professor. She was also a consultant to the American Dental Association and developed several dental instruments still used in Dental Hygiene practices and Dental Schools today.
She and her husband Roy loved water sports including fishing, swimming, and boating and were NC State Hobie Cat Sailing Champions one year. They also traveled all over the US with their dogs in their RV and had wonderful adventures in other countries. Her favorite trip was a cruise titled, "In the Wake of the Vikings". It traced the migration of the Vikings from Norway to their settlements in Canada and included stops in Iceland and Greenland along the way.

Melissa always had a vegetable garden everywhere she lived and canned many of the things she grew. Many of her friends made fun of her huge pantry which was always stocked with food for whoever came to visit. She was a good cook and loved to experiment with new and improved recipes. Her husband Roy told everyone the reason he married her was because she was a great cook.

Sewing was one of her greatest passions. She decorated her home with the drapes, bedspreads, pillows, quilts and other things she made. She made clothing for herself, altered clothes for friends and neighbors, and always had things to fix for her kids and grandkids when they came to visit. She also loved to share her sewing talents by teaching sewing whenever she had a chance. She loved to make things and to keep busy.

In her later years, she still loved to go to her garden and sit on the garden's retaining wall to "Think", smell the fresh lake breezes, watch the plants grow, and the humming birds feed off the flowers. She also became a reader and loved to hand quilt. She loved life and had a great time living it. She will miss her family and her Companion and Lover Roy terribly! He was her rock, lover, friend, companion, and her bright light every day. God Bless and keep her and let his light shine down upon her! - Drafted by Melissa, herself, on March 22, 2025

The family will hold a memorial service at Soule Chapel United Methodist Church on July 19, 2025 at 2 PM with the Reverend Emil Finley officiating. A gathering of friends and family will take place following the service in the fellowship hall.

For those who desire to send flowers to please send a donation to the Self Regional Medical Center Cancer Fund in the name of Melissa Roe. Their care for her was outstanding and she would appreciate the support forth this worthwhile organization.