Melissa Griffith

Melissa Kilgore Griffith, 38 of Chattanooga, formerly of Whitwell, passed away Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, surrounded by family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Harold David "Leonard" Kilgore; brother, William "Rusty" McCurry; parental grandparents, Jess and Ethel Kilgore; maternal grandparents, Sam and Mary Hamrick.Melissa had been involved with CADAS of Chattanooga for several years as a volunteer and later as an employee. She was attending college with the aspirations of becoming a counselor and later changed her major to business.Those left to cherish her memories are three children, Zachery Griffith, Brandon Poe and Kaitlin Poe, of Red Bank; mother, Billie Jean Kilgore, of Powells Crossroads; fiancee, Joseph Barney and his children; sisters, Shirley (Rod) Nunley, of Whitwell, Kathelee Layne (Butch Hill), of Chattanooga; brothers, John McTenn (Anita Blevins), of Fort Payne, Ala., Sam McCurry, of Gruetli-Laager; 11 nieces; nine nephews; numerous great-nieces and nephews. Melissa had countless aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who have prayed for her and supported her and the family during this illness.Funeral services will be 2 p.m. CDT Sunday, Oct. 16, at Red Hill Community Church with Rev. Brad Bryant officiating.Interment will be at Griffith Creek Cemetery Whitwell, Tenn.Family will receive friends 1-8 p.m. CDTtoday, Oct. 15.In lieu of flowers please send donations to help with funeral expenses to Whitwell Memorial Funeral Home, P.O. Box 898, Whitwell, TN 37397, 423-658-7777.