Melissa Lee Hood was born to Cy and Gladys Hood on December 3, 1933, in Mooresville, NC where her father was Principal of the Mooresville High School. The family moved to Charlotte when Melissa was eighteen months old. There she grew up in the freedom of the woods and fields of then rural Sardis Road, a member of Sardis (then ARP) Presbyterian Church, and graduating from Central High School in 1952. She earned a BS in nursing from Emory University in 1956. Melissa worked consecutively at Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, VA; Onslow Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, NC; North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill; and Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, as her first husband was transferred with the military.

For thirty years she lived in Hatteras Village on the Outer Banks, where she raised her three children and nurtured a good many others, participating enthusiastically in many facets of island life -- United Methodist Women, teaching Sunday School, leading Methodist Youth, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and PTA, and she loved every minute of it!

As the family changed, she moved to Shelby to be near her eldest daughter, embracing her new home just as she had Hatteras. She adored nursing, and the last ten years of her professional life were spent as a Hospice home care nurse, which she often admitted she "would have done for free." She was an active member, volunteer, and Sunday school teacher at Shelby Presbyterian Church.

In retirement she had more time to enjoy the things precious to her -- family, home, her spirited and voluminous correspondence with family and friends, good books, her beloved dogs, the outdoors, and the birds and squirrels that were her backyard "critters." She and her husband Bill traveled extensively, both in the US and abroad. They enjoyed cooking, music, theatre, yard and house projects, and numerous church volunteer jobs.

Melissa was preceded in death by her husband, William Andres DeVane, her parents, and brother Dr. C.K. Hood of Charlotte.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren -- daughter Shannon Blackley (Chip) of Shelby; son Ben Burroughs (Todd) of Rochester, NY; daughter Laurie (Charles) of Hatteras, NC; five grandchildren -- Gracie Huggins (Will) and Shem Blackley; Rennie, Cate, and Josie Parker; and her last beloved canine companion, Vera.

Known as "Moll" to her family, Melissa was the world's greatest mom, grandmother, and friend. She was a strong, positive, resilient, independent, and deeply spiritual woman who faithfully served God by spending her life in gracious and humble service to others. She was also joyful, generous, and sharply perceptive. She always looked for the good in people and the humor in most situations. She had the perfect greeting card for every occasion. One of her favorite songs was sung by The Youngbloods: "Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now!" Another favorite was the poem Abou Ben Adhem (Hunt), when he spoke to the Angel saying, "I pray thee then, write me as one that loves his fellow men." She also loved and thoroughly related to the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the Shelby Brookdale Assisted Living Community where Melissa resided for the last months of her life, the wonderful and compassionate care of Atrium Health-Cleveland ER and Surgical Floor, and Hospice of Cleveland County at Wendover.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Melissa will rest in Sardis Presbyterian Church Cemetery beside her husband and parents. In lieu of flowers, Melissa would ask that we go in peace, to love and serve the Lord and one another. Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, Clifford's Army (animal) Rescue, or charity of choice.

Arrangements are handled by Clay-Barnette Funeral Home and Aquamation Center in Shelby. Online condolences may be made at www.claybarnette.com