Melissa Winters Mielke

Melissa Winters Mielke, 53, passed away peacefully after a long battle with breast cancer. Born in Connecticut and raised in Savannah, Georgia, she grew up surrounded by family and community. She was a proud graduate of Windsor Forest High School, where she was a member of the marching Chatelaines, before continuing her education at Georgia Southern University and the University of North Carolina (B.S., M.A., Communication Studies), and later at the University of Georgia (M.M.C., Mass Communication/Advertising).

Melissa built her life around learning, teaching, and encouraging others. After moving to Daytona, she worked as an advertising agent before becoming a professor of public speaking. She loved helping her students overcome one of their greatest fears. For her, teaching was not just about speaking-it was about giving people confidence, courage, and the ability to share their voices with the world.

Melissa married as Wonder Woman and embodied that powerful spirit throughout her life. Her greatest joy was her family. She shared her life with her husband, Dan, and together they raised and homeschooled their son, Max, in New Smyrna Beach. She was a devoted mother and shared her passion for parenthood and education with her local circle of moms and the La Leche League. Melissa cherished family adventures, sailing the Bahamas, exploring Door County, Wisconsin, and relaxing at Sweetwater Cabin. She loved the water and nature, and her love extended to her "fur babies," enjoying long beach and woods walks with her dog and quiet naps with her cat.

Melissa was also deeply involved in the art world. As an artist herself, she loved creating pottery, mosaics, and collages. She surrounded herself with fellow artists, finding their creativity inspiring. She helped establish the Lanouette Foundation and remained an active member of the art community wherever she lived.

Throughout her decade-long fight with cancer, Melissa demonstrated heroic strength. She continued homeschooling, reading, gardening, beekeeping, sailing, skiing, playing games of all kinds, studying languages, and traveling. She was as happy line dancing or practicing yoga as she was tending her pets, creating art, or watching the sunrise in the middle of the Gulf Stream.

Melissa is survived by her father, Ralph Winters; her husband, Dan; her son, Max; and many loving cousins, aunts, and uncles. She was preceded in death by her mother, Anne Winters.

She will be remembered for her empathy, her adventurous spirit, her love of family, and her ability to find beauty in both people and the world around her.