Melissa Newkirk, age 58 of Christiana, died Saturday at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. She was a native of Murfreesboro and a daughter of the late Sam Houston and Ruth Cooper Carlton. She was also preceded in death by a nephew, Freeland Maxwell, and a brother in law, John Swart.

Survivors include her husband, Billy Newkirk; sisters, Charlotte Maxwell of Murfreesboro and Darlene Swart of Bon Aqua; step-son, Eric Arnold and step granddaughter, Lorelei Arnold, both of Fayetteville; nephew, Tommy Maxwell of Acworth, GA; and great nephews, Dalton Maxwell of Murfreesboro, and Zachary and Spencer Maxwell both of Acworth, GA.

Mrs. Newkirk was a member of Third Baptist Church and attended Science Hill Church of Christ. She had worked as a beautician and a medical assistant.

Visitation with the family will be Monday night from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel with Bro. F. Murray Mathis officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made in memory of Mrs. Newkirk to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203. An online guestbook is available at www.woodfinchapel.com.