Melaina Anna Marie Jernigan

Melaina Anna Marie Jernigan returned to her Fathers arms on March 21, 2020.  Melaina was born in Dayton Ohio on January 13, 1993.  Parents Melonya K. Cook (Newton Township, Ohio) Bradley C. Flynn (West Carrollton, Ohio), Marie Carpenter (West Carrollton, Ohio)  express our great sadness as together with Father Lincoln J. Jernigan (Hamilton County, Ohio) we lay our child to rest.  Melaina was proceeded in death by Coo Coo - Arthur Jernigan, Grandma - Ruth Cook and Grandpa Lowell Cook, Nanny – Nancy Flynn and Papa Boyd – Boyd Flynn, Papa Denny - Dennis Day, and Brother Lincoln Jamal Jernigan Jr. She is survived by her children, Josiah Jordan Fries (Piqua, Ohio) and Isabelle Ruthanne Jernigan (Newton Township, Ohio); Grandparents: Grammy - Audrey Day, Nanny - Roberta Jernigan. Aunts: Celia, Lisa, Noreen,  Laurie, Penny,  Jodi, Chris, Carmen, Tamera, Wendy, Brittany, Katie, Andrea,  Shayna  and Artina; Uncles: Benton, Daniel, Nathan, Roger D, Roger H., Tyler, John, Frank and Amad;Siblings: Michael Saunders, Kristopher Saunders Kaitlinne Guy, Madisyn Jernigan Cook, Mary Stewart, Trevor Saunders, Jade Jernigan, Jazmine Jernigan Lillee Jernigan, and Noah Jernigan.

Melaina attended Troy Elementary, and Jr. High, completing her course work through Newton Local School/Council on Rural Services Cooperative, and receiving a High School Diploma from Piqua Christian.  Melaina gave birth to her first child Josiah Jordan in 2010 and daughter Isabelle in 2017.  Melaina loved to visit with her children and worked hard to manage an unmanageable disease that kept her from enjoying them everyday. We ask that you feel free to share stories of your memories with Melaina so we can preserve them and share with her children in the future.

Melaina loved art and music.  She blessed her world with her beautiful voice, jewelry, paintings, and poems. Melaina enjoyed going to the beach, concerts and live music, car trips with her sister, karaoke, going to see her family, playing cards and visiting with her friends. 

Melaina loved with her whole heart. She loved her memories of friends. She told many stories of heartache, recounting the great trauma and pain expressed by those friends, who carry great burdens, unimaginable burdens. Melaina was not able to feel her own worth like she could feel and express the worth of others.  Praying for God to forgive her, searching endlessly for the ability to forgive herself, and accept the love she could never believe she deserved. All the while, caring for those who were also searching, believing if she loved enough and was “good enough” her love could take their pain away. 

The grief we feel today will be expressed through words and photos.  When our world is safe to travel and our minds are clear to mourn we will come together in celebration of Melaina’s journey to peace.

In lieu of flowers please make any donations to the Bridges-Stocker – Fraley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 280, Covington, OH 45318.  Donations will  be applied to the funeral home invoice and any additional donations will be deposited into Josiah and Isabelle’s  education fund at River Valley Credit Union. 

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