REMEMBERING MELISSA
North Miami recalls fallen student

By KELLY VOSS
Tribune Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 01, 2005

The tragic loss of a Denver teen Saturday brought sadness over North Miami Community Schools Monday.

Melissa Linn Taylor, born Jan. 17, 1987 to Duane and Shannon Taylor, was tragically lost in a car accident Saturday afternoon. The accident also injured her older sister, Davyna, who remains in serious condition at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, and two other young people, Blake A. Hinson, who also remained in Parkview in stable condition, and Timothy A. Barnes, who was treated at Parkview and then released late Sunday.

North Miami senior Robin Ward pauses after signing the memorial for Melissa Taylor outside the school library Monday afternoon. (Tribune photo by Rob Edwards)

Monday Melissa's locker stood open, filled with postcards from students, flowers and notes, already written, but undelivered. Some students stood by just looking on in thought, while others stopped to write fond memories or sad good-byes on a poster board taped across the top.

A crisis team composed of ministers and counselors from Four County Counseling Center was in North Miami Middle/High School Monday to help students and staff alike come to terms with the loss of Melissa, according to Doris Schipper, guidance counselor at North Miami.

Some teachers close to Melissa gathered together during a student resource time to remember her and express their thoughts.

Kerri Hanneken knew Melissa for two school years, and while she didn't have her in any classes this term, she continued to speak with her on a daily basis.

"When you saw Melissa in the hallways," she said, "she was a ray of sunshine. She had bright blonde hair and was very bubbly in her personality. She always talked to everyone - she was very comfortable with herself."

Jim Wilson had Melissa in his very small algebra class, but remembered her for another subject.

"She loved to write poetry," Wilson said. "She would always read it to me in class," he said chuckling through tears. "I teach algebra."

Wilson also discovered something new about Melissa's sense of humor Monday.

"Every day I would come into class and find a very little saying written on the board," Wilson said. "Of course, none of the students would ever tell me who wrote it. Today I found out who the author was. It wasn't there ... Melissa wasn't there, so it won't be there anymore," he said through tears.

Sarah Furthmiller remembered Melissa for her tremendous courage struggling through a teenage pregnancy.

"Her little girl meant the world to her," Furthmiller said of one-year old Christina, Melissa's daughter. She was very realistic about her situation and she always served as such a positive role model for the other kids in the school. She loved her child, but she never sugarcoated how tough it was to be a parent."

Becky Jackson had Melissa each day for creative writing, and said the love of her child and poetry was very evident in her school work.

"She actually wrote a paper on Christina recently," Jackson said. "I am hoping to pass it on to her family for Christina to have when she is older. Melissa loved her so much and she loved writing. She kept a journal of her poetry and writing. She carried it with her every day. She never missed a day when she came back from having a baby. If she had no sleep the night before because of the baby, she would never complain about it. She never complained."

Heidi Vice teaches science and said she remembers Melissa as an upbeat person.

"This is actually the second year I have taught Melissa," Vice said. "She had to have been one of the most vibrant students I have come across. She did struggle a little with science, but that didn't matter to her. She continued to work very hard. She made up her mind to get through school and graduate for her daughter and her grades actually went up after she became a mother."

"She was always nice to everyone - all the students," said Diana Neu. "She really enjoyed talking to people. She was very social. It's going to be so quiet around here without her. She would always stop and talk to us in the halls between classes."

Hanneken said she would also miss Melissa as a neighbor as well as a student.

"I drive by her lane every day on the way to work," said Hanneken. "She was always there waving and smiling. I'm going to really miss her standing there and smiling. She was a real sweetheart."

Melissa left behind her parents, her daughter, Christina, her sister, Davyna, and brothers Kevin, Derek and Corey. She also left behind other family members and many friends at North Miami Community Schools.

Junior Class President Kayla Arnett said the junior class decided Monday to take up donations to assist Melissa's family with medical and funeral expenses and to help the family with raising Melissa's daughter, Christina. They had already raised $40 Monday from students.

Donations can be sent to North Miami High School at 570 E. CR 900 N., Denver, IN 46926.

Postcards to Heaven from North Miami High School

The following are a few of the hundreds of comments written around North Miami High School Monday from students dealing with the loss of Melissa Linn Taylor.

*Melissa - You were a great friend and you won't be forgotten. - Teresa O.

*Melissa - ... a friend like you only comes along once in a lifetime. I love you. - Rachel Y.

*There will never be a friend quite like you! Your smile touched us all. Always - Robin W.

*Your were like a sister and we will always love you. - Heather

*To a great friend. We will never forget you ... you were awesome. We are sorry you are not with us, but you are in our hearts. - Megan B.

*Melissa - We will all miss you in math class. You made us all laugh hysterically. You were one of a kind. - Jessa

*You were a beautiful person. We will miss you so much. - Phoenix

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