Rita Mellichamp

Rita Louise Berry Mellichamp COLUMBIA Rita Louise Berry Mellichamp, 68 years young, at peace with her God, transitioned to renewed life on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at her home. Rita was born November 11, 1949 in Sumter, SC to Louis Berry and Frances Kaplan Berry. She moved to Columbia with her family at an early age where she graduated from Flora High School, obtained an Associate Degree of Science in Human Services from Midlands Technical College, where she selected to the Dean's List, and received specialized training in business accounting from The University of South Carolina. Her varied career included bookkeeper with a law firm, banking customer service representative, retail work in her family's clothing store on Main St., teaching assistant at Shandon Methodist Pre-school, dental technician, and ophthalmic clinical technician. But her greatest joy came in working with children with special needs at Rice Creek Elementary School, where she was honored as Staff Person of the Year, and finishing her working career spreading her caring and joy with students at Westwood High School as Attendance Secretary. Any child that needed love and a motherly hug knew to come to her. She loved people at their worst as well as their best, and her love was unconditional. Without second thought, she put anyone ahead of herself. It was at Westwood that she formed her closest bond with the group who called themselves "The Hens", who supported and loved her so dearly through the final 6 years of her life. Special needs children always had a very special place in Rita's heart. The family lived in Brandon, Florida for 10 years and she served on the Board of Directors of TOPS Soccer, a program for children with special needs who wanted to play soccer. She also served as a home room mother and on various PTA committees of elementary and middle schools where her children attended, and on the Board of Education for the Tree of Life Congregation in Columbia. Rita was an inspiration and guiding light to all who were fortunate enough to encounter her love, strength, endurance, and caring. She brightened even the darkest rooms and her laugh was contagious. But, above all else, was family, especially her children and grandchild, whom she cherished and adored, reveling in their accomplishments. She was a fighter and a beacon of bravery and coverage to all she met along her journey, and together with her unwavering faith in her God, it sustained her through the 15 years of struggle with cancer. In addition to her husband and partner of 34 years, David Mellichamp, Rita is survived by sons, Lance Mellichamp (Codi) and Jordan Mellichamp (Kristen Richie) of Brandon, Florida; daughter, Devon Mellichamp of West Columbia; step-children, Lori Dodson (Joey) of Lake Wylie and Ryan Mellichamp (Laura) of Irmo; one grandson; and eight step-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Judi Emanuel (Jerry) of Columbia. She is predeceased by her mother, father, and brother, Alan Berry. A memorial Celebration of Life for Rita Berry Mellichamp will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, 1000 B Avenue, West Columbia. The family will receive friends in the assembly room of the church beginning at 2:30 p.m. Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to South Carolina Oncology Associates Cares Foundation, 166 Stoneridge Dr., Columbia, SC 29210, or to a charity of choice. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of SCOA who have shown Rita so much love and caring throughout her journey. They also thank the team from Crescent Hospice for their love and caring for Rita and her family during her final days. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.