Melissa Matthews Pittman

Melissa Matthews Pittman September 14, 1967 – May 9, 2016 Melissa Matthews Pittman, 48, of Gainesville, Florida, formally of Wilson, passed away Monday, May 9, 2016 peacefully after a courageous battle with brain cancer. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Chris Glover will officiate. Melissa is survived by her loving husband, of twenty-eight years, Jay Pittman, of Gainesville, Florida, formally of Wilson; her daughter, Alexandra Pittman of Orlando, Florida; her son, James Pittman of Birmingham, Alabama; her parents, Joseph “Joey” W. Matthews, Jr. and Carolyn Tant Matthews of Sims; her sisters, Lori Boyette and husband, Tommy of Bailey, and Stephanie Glover and husband, Chris of Bailey, and her brother, Jeff Matthews of Bailey. Melissa graduated from James B. Hunt High School in Wilson and attended Meredith College in Raleigh on a voice scholarship. Before starting her wonderful family of Alexandra and James she was a licensed cosmetologist. After the children went to school she began a new career working in the golf shop with her husband, Jay, a PGA golf professional, where she specialized in retail and the day to day golf operations. After the diagnosis of brain cancer in 2008, a group of her friends wanted to know what they could do to help, she responded with “help find a cure”. That conversation among Melissa and her friends led to the Golfer’s vs. Brain Cancer in 2009, at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar, Florida. The foundation has raised nearly $500,000.00 in the last seven years and has supported brain cancer research at the Moffitt Cancer Center and All-Children’s Pediatric Center in Tampa, Florida. The family would like to extend a special thank you for their love and support for the medical team at Moffitt Cancer Center, the crew at UF Shands, and the awesome group at Haven Hospice and the supporters of the Golfer’s vs. Brain Center Foundation. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made in Melissa’s honor to the Golfer’s vs. Brain Cancer Foundation, 334 East Lake Road, Suite 309, Palm Harbor, Florida 34785-2427 or golfersvsbraincancer.com or Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Boulevard, Gainesville, Florida 32606-3809 or havenhospice.org. A celebration of Melissa’s life will also be held Wednesday, May 18, 2016 from 3:30 – 6 p.m. at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar, Florida. In honor of Melissa’s zest for life please wear your favorite cruise or island attire at her celebration. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.