Melissa is survived by her daughters, Kate and Emma Fox. She is preceded in death by her mother, Cynthia Wilson, and her father, Robert Eastman, of Lawton, Oklahoma, as well as her cat, Sadie Bop.


Melissa was born on December 12, 1955 in Lawton, Oklahoma to Cynthia and Robert. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1977 with a bachelors of arts in English and psychology. She completed her master's degree in education at William and Mary in 1978. She devoted her life to helping students achieve their dreams, serving as the Regional Director of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania and as the College Counselor at the Episcopal Academy.


Melissa was also very well known in the Havertown community. She played an integral role in planning the Haverford Music Festival; she was an active member of the Havertown Community Action Network (H-CAN); and served on the third ward committee of the Haverford Democrats. She was very passionate about progressive issues and worked on many local Democratic campaigns. Melissa was a very kind and loving mother and friend, and a very powerful role model to women worldwide.