Melissa Rhea Copeland Funeral

Obituary

Melissa Rhea Parsons Copeland, age 51, of Livingston entered into the presence of Jesus on October 19th 2025. Born on April 30th 1974 in Cookevillle  to Buckie and Lamoine Parsons, Melissa was always quick to tell you what she thought. Sometimes it may have been too quick as her "filter" didn't always work so well.

Melissa is survived by her parents, son Jayse (Shaina) Copeland and daughter Sydnie (Jake Whitsett) Copeland. Also surviving is a grandson Mayson Copeland, her sisters Beth (Josh Hixson) Parsons, and Katie Parsons, her brother Buck (Mary Ellen) Parsons, nieces Makynna Bilbrey, and Katie Beth Bilbrey, nephews Jackson Parsons, Brody Parsons, and Cale Parsons, and great nieces Memphis and Monroe Kate Greenwood. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family would like to thank Sonya Nivens and Sheila Ford for the tremendous care and love as they saw to Melissa's needs in her last days on this earth. A special crown in heaven is due to you.

Melissa was preceded in death by her grand parents Freeman and Mary Helen Apple, Martha B. Parsons, and Everett Parsons. 

A student of the Bible, Melissa had a relationship with the Lord and had even taken a trip to Israel to walk where Jesus had walked. She is now walking with Jesus for eternity. A Certified Nursing Assistant, she cared deeply for her patients and strived to make their days better. Melissa enjoyed her music like she enjoyed life, loud and purposeful. She was known to groove to the likes of Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Lecrae, Skillet and more. When the family would gather together it was easy to tell which room Melissa was in because of the laughter that came from her direction. Her smile, laughter and love will be impossible to replace but the family can find peace in knowing she is with her Lord.

I want to start by saying to the family:

I am so sorry for your loss

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the honor of knowing Melissa very well

But I do know this:

51 is too soon to lose a mother

51 is too soon to lose a sister/cousin/aunt/niece

And it is always too soon to lose a daughter

I have 2 precious daughters of my own

And I pray with all my heart…

That I never have to experience…

What Buckie & Lamoine are experiencing

You consider the possibility of outliving your parents

You consider the possibility of outliving your sibling or cousin

And it’s a sad & difficult to think about

But to consider the possibility of outliving your child

That is nearly unbearable

No one knows exactly what you are going through

But our Father knows

We imagine, but He knows

He knows the sadness & pain you are feeling

And He cares

He experienced the death of a child too

But he also raised that child from the dead…

And brought Him back to Himself

And that’s exactly what He has promised to do…

For all those who place their faith in Him…

And walk in the footsteps of Lord Jesus

Resurrection to a life that never ends

That is our hope & future

Everyone grieves the death of a loved one

But there’s a major difference between grieving with hope…

And grieving without it

Grieving without hope is true despair

But grieving with hope makes the pain bearable

It gives a beautifully bright light at the end of the dark tunnel

With Jesus, we have hope

Hope of seeing our loved ones again in the age to come

In the depths of pain, suffering, & sadness…

People tend to run in 1 of 2 directions

Away from God

Or toward Him

Don’t let days like this cause you to run from Him

Allow days like this to remind you that there is hope in Him

Allow days like this to remind you that there is joy in Him

Allow days like this to remind you that there is life in Him

Run to Him

Run to Him for:

Comfort

Peace

Hope

Life

Because those are exactly the things that He offers you

Those are exactly the things He wants to give you

Make sure that when the day of your funeral comes…

It will be a day of hopeful grief…

And not hopeless grief

Pray for Comfort, Peace, & Hope