Melissa Stikeleather

Mary Melissa Thompson Stikeleather, 66, of Chapel Hill, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at UNC Hospitals of Chapel Hill. Mrs. Stikeleather was born June 28, 1944, to the late Charles Willard Thompson and Bernice Stone Thompson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother James Willard Thompson. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Dr. Jim A. Stikeleather of the home, her sister Diane Thompson Kessler of Durham, her son Benjamin Charles Stikeleather (Betsy) of Durham, her grandchildren Claudia Marie and Carter Malcolm Stikeleather of Durham, a nephew Jonathan Lee Thompson of Charlotte, and a niece Melissa McGuire Kessler of Durham, in addition to numerous cousins. Mrs. Stikeleather was a teacher, floral designer, homemaker, devoted wife, mother and friend. A Statesville native, she was a member of MYF and youth choir of the Broad Street Methodist Church where she was married. She was a graduate of Statesville High School where she was an all-tournament and all-conference defensive guard with the women's basketball team and a member of numerous clubs and associations. She earned four consecutive Carnation Corp. annual scholarships awarded to Mitchell College and Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory where she graduated in 1966 with an A.B. degree in elementary education. She taught elementary and special education in public schools in Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill and Durham, and in Tallahassee, Fla. Floral design was her other vocational interest. She designed and arranged for several florist shops in Chapel Hill and Durham. Over the years, she actively maintained and nurtured her Statesville relationships through planning and participation in class reunions and special trips annually with the Precious Ladies, a group of her closest high school classmates. A memorial service will be held in the Nicholson Funeral Home chapel on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 5 p.m. The reverend Jeff Coppley will be officiating. Visitation with the family will immediately follow. Her remains will be interred at the Concord Presbyterian Church cemetery in Loray. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the Get Real and Heel (a UNC Cancer Hospital after care breast cancer program sponsored by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization). Donations should be addressed to Get Real and Heel, Campus Box 8700, 210 South Road, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries .