Melissa Hart Darden Odom passed away July 26, 2005.

Melissa was born in Suffolk on March 29, 1962 and spent her life in her hometown.

She was graduated from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and Sweet Briar College.

She was a member of The Nansemond River Garden Club and The Garden Club of Virginia.

Dedicated to the arts, she was a past President of the Suffolk Art League and held membership in The Literary Club, Suffolk Book Club and Book Babes.

Melissa was an active volunteer.

She worked for many years on the NSA Art Show including serving as Chairman.

She was a gifted flower arranger and offered her talent to many organizations such as the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society and Riddick’s Folly.

She is survived by her children, Taylor Hart Odom and Henry Hunter Odom, III and their father, Henry Hunter Odom Jr.; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Taylor Darden Jr.; sisters, Frances Birdsong Darden Carden and husband William T. Carden Jr.; Mary Austin Darden Staples and husband Arthur A. Staples; and nieces and nephew, Anne Austin Carden, Emily Shillington Carden, Elizabeth Birdsong Carden, Catherine Taylor Carden, Arthur Arden Staples Jr. and Frances Darden Staples.

A graveside service will be conducted Friday July 29, 2005 at 11 a.m. in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Carlotta Cochran will officiate. The family will receive friends and family today at 5 p.m. in the evening at her parents’ home. R. W. Baker & CO Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cultural Enrichment Program of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, 3373 Pruden Blvd., Suffolk, Va. 23434 or the Cedar Hill Project, the cemetery restoration project of The Nansemond River Garden Club, P.O. Box 344, Suffolk, Va. 23439.