Mrs. Melissa Ann Kitchens, 48, of Newnan and Swainsboro passed away Wednesday morning, May 6, 2015 at the Southern Crescent Hospital for Specialty Care in Riverdale following an extended illness.
Mrs. Kitchens was born March 21, 1967 in Swainsboro to Curly Kitchens and Gloria Fields Kitchens. She was preceded in death by her Aunt Shirley (Kitchens) Grant, Uncle Billy Ray Fields, and Uncle Roddie Eddy "Toby" Fields.
Melissa was a Actress, Dancer, Singer, Honor Student and Scholarship Pageant contestant from a young age, having won the title of Miss Emanuel County (Superstar) in 1986 earning her the right to compete at Miss Georgia where she made Top Ten.
She graduated from Swainsboro High School with Honors in 1985 as Editor of The Yearbook and went on to Georgia Southern University, earning a B.S. with Honors in Communication Arts (Broadcast Journalism), with a Minor in Public Relations in the fall of 1989, where she was also a member of Delta Lambda Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority, a Kappa Sigma Little Sister, and voted "Miss Greek" in 1988.
She was accepted as an intern with CNN in the Audio Department in the summer 1989, and was immediately hired after her graduation in the fall and during her 22 year career she rose to the position of Senior Audio Designer, sometimes working for several days straight to cover breaking national or international news including the Gulf Wars and Hurricane Katrina, and traveling to many venues like both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
In 2002 Melissa won an Emmy from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her support of coverage of September 11, 2001 attacks and all subsequent investigative reporting.
She was also a Member of the Junior Service League of Newnan, GA since 1996, where she was a Sustaining Member, a Member of First Baptist Church of Swainsboro and Central Baptist Church in Newnan, GA.
After leaving CNN, Melissa followed her true passion, opening Sweet Melissa's Catering. A boutique catering company which provided pre-prepared family meals for Holidays and other large gatherings, special event catering, and specialized in her Award Winning Cakes & Pies that were sent to nearly all 50 states. She used a large portion of her time and profits to feed the needy, especially during the Thanksgiving & Christmas Holidays and to buy presents for needy families with children during Christmas.
She also continued to act, appearing in the Christmas Production at the Newnan Civic Center and headlined the Edisto Island, SC stage version of "Steel Magnolia's" as Truvvy Jones, where she received rave reviews, just prior to being diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.
Survivors include her long time companion, Charles W. “Chuck” Rose of Newnan; parents, Curly Wayne Kitchens and Gloria Ann Fields Kitchens of Swainsboro; uncle David and aunt Sandra Fields, uncle Tommy and aunt Tochie Lee Fields, uncle Randy Fields; cousins, Terri Fields-Aldrich, Tracy Fields Mason, Justin Fields, Jeremy Fields, and Jason Fields; and several friends.
Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Swainsboro at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2015 with Reverends Paul Leigh and Bunny Hudson officiating. Interment will be in the Swainsboro City Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the church.
Pallbearers are Mitchell Bedgood, Otis Williams, Nathan Walker, Wesley Fountain, Hank Evans and Charles Schwabe.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Tammy Durden, Ronda McKinney Bauknight. Rhonda Rowland Webb, Monica McClendon Jones, Angela Bolton, Terri Fields Aldrich, Melissa Archer Clifton, Donna Burke Newsome, Peggy Hurst, Jennifer Sikkelee Underwood, Lisa Aliotta
Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Melissa Ann Kitchens Benefit Fund, P O Box 1516, Swainsboro, GA 30401.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com
Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for the funeral of Mrs. Melissa Ann Kitchens, 48, of Newnan and Swainsboro.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melissa Ann Kitchens, please visit our flower store.
Mrs. Kitchens was born March 21, 1967 in Swainsboro to Curly Kitchens and Gloria Fields Kitchens. She was preceded in death by her Aunt Shirley (Kitchens) Grant, Uncle Billy Ray Fields, and Uncle Roddie Eddy "Toby" Fields.
Melissa was a Actress, Dancer, Singer, Honor Student and Scholarship Pageant contestant from a young age, having won the title of Miss Emanuel County (Superstar) in 1986 earning her the right to compete at Miss Georgia where she made Top Ten.
She graduated from Swainsboro High School with Honors in 1985 as Editor of The Yearbook and went on to Georgia Southern University, earning a B.S. with Honors in Communication Arts (Broadcast Journalism), with a Minor in Public Relations in the fall of 1989, where she was also a member of Delta Lambda Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority, a Kappa Sigma Little Sister, and voted "Miss Greek" in 1988.
She was accepted as an intern with CNN in the Audio Department in the summer 1989, and was immediately hired after her graduation in the fall and during her 22 year career she rose to the position of Senior Audio Designer, sometimes working for several days straight to cover breaking national or international news including the Gulf Wars and Hurricane Katrina, and traveling to many venues like both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
In 2002 Melissa won an Emmy from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her support of coverage of September 11, 2001 attacks and all subsequent investigative reporting.
She was also a Member of the Junior Service League of Newnan, GA since 1996, where she was a Sustaining Member, a Member of First Baptist Church of Swainsboro and Central Baptist Church in Newnan, GA.
After leaving CNN, Melissa followed her true passion, opening Sweet Melissa's Catering. A boutique catering company which provided pre-prepared family meals for Holidays and other large gatherings, special event catering, and specialized in her Award Winning Cakes & Pies that were sent to nearly all 50 states. She used a large portion of her time and profits to feed the needy, especially during the Thanksgiving & Christmas Holidays and to buy presents for needy families with children during Christmas.
She also continued to act, appearing in the Christmas Production at the Newnan Civic Center and headlined the Edisto Island, SC stage version of "Steel Magnolia's" as Truvvy Jones, where she received rave reviews, just prior to being diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.
Survivors include her long time companion, Charles W. “Chuck” Rose of Newnan; parents, Curly Wayne Kitchens and Gloria Ann Fields Kitchens of Swainsboro; uncle David and aunt Sandra Fields, uncle Tommy and aunt Tochie Lee Fields, uncle Randy Fields; cousins, Terri Fields-Aldrich, Tracy Fields Mason, Justin Fields, Jeremy Fields, and Jason Fields; and several friends.
Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Swainsboro at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2015 with Reverends Paul Leigh and Bunny Hudson officiating. Interment will be in the Swainsboro City Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the church.
Pallbearers are Mitchell Bedgood, Otis Williams, Nathan Walker, Wesley Fountain, Hank Evans and Charles Schwabe.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Tammy Durden, Ronda McKinney Bauknight. Rhonda Rowland Webb, Monica McClendon Jones, Angela Bolton, Terri Fields Aldrich, Melissa Archer Clifton, Donna Burke Newsome, Peggy Hurst, Jennifer Sikkelee Underwood, Lisa Aliotta
Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Melissa Ann Kitchens Benefit Fund, P O Box 1516, Swainsboro, GA 30401.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com
Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for the funeral of Mrs. Melissa Ann Kitchens, 48, of Newnan and Swainsboro.