Dr. Melissa
Payne 11/30/1970 - 7/16/2006
You'll be missed.....
July 18, 2006
It's hard to imagine having lunch with someone one day, only to find out they are gone less than 24 hours later. Unfortunately that's the exact position I find myself in today and I'm quite shaken.
Melissa and I became friends at one of the Friday night dinner rides my church motorcycle club organizes. She pulled into the parking lot of First Baptist Church in Smyrna, TN that Friday evening on her blue and white 2002 GSXR600. I was happy to see a new sport bike rider joining us as sport bikes are very much in the minority. We chatted a little before the ride and I made sure she joined me in the riding formation amongst all the cruisers. I got to know Melissa during that church dinner ride and invited her to join one of my best friends and I the following day for a more spirited ride to Center Hill Lake. After contemplating Tae Kwon Do class or a ride with me and Chris, she opted for the latter. I introduced her to my buddy Chris over lunch which sparked a long term relationship between the two of them as well as her children Forrester and Anna Marie.
Melissa went down on her GSXR600 as she followed Chris on his ZRX1200 for a casual ride to grab a bite to eat on Sunday, July 16, 2006. We're all still baffled as to what exactly happened to cause Melissa to fall as there was no speed nor traffic involved. Seeing Melissa go down in his rear view mirror, Chris quickly spun his ZRX1200 around and hurried to her aid. Although Chris performed CPR until EMTs arrived, Melissa did not survive. I was completely shocked when I received the emotional phone call from Chris on Sunday at 2:04PM telling me what had happened. I could actually feel the blood rushing away from my face as I realized what he was telling me.
I keep thinking I was just sitting next to her the other day having lunch and now she is gone. It's a real eye opener as to how short life really is and is making me re-evaluate things in my own life. I hurt not only for Melissa's family, but for my good friend Chris Peercy as well, who will likely never be the same.
Melissa is survived by her 11 year old son Forrester, 6 year old daughter Anna Marie, mother Marcia, father Isaac, brother Mathew, and of course her close friend Chris Peercy. Memorials may be made to the "Free in Christ" trust fund for Forrester and Anna Marie Payne at Suntrust Bank
Melissa, you will be greatly missed.
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