The funeral service for Melissa Annette Brister will be 1 p.m., Friday, May 26, at Riverwood Family, with interment in Union Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, May 25, at Riverwood and will resume from Noon until the time of service on Friday.

Mrs. Brister, 53, of Brookhaven, died May 23, 2023, at King’s Daughters Medical Center. She was Born October 22, 1969, to JJ Wallace Jr. and Denise Durr Upton.

Melissa worked for Superior Welding and Fabrication in the bookkeeping and accounting department. Her life away from the busyness of work included riding the creek with family and friends as well as just taking long walks around her home to enjoy the fresh air. She also found great joy in just listening to music or singing along with her favorite songs. Her greatest enjoyment was her children. Melissa will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her father, JJ Wallace Jr.; stepfather, Bo Upton; and father-in-law, Morris Brister; and her sister, Tina Annette Wallace.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 34 years, John “Speck” Brister; her children, Brooke Brister, John Garett Brister, Saylor Brister, and Cheyenne Brister; her mother, Denise Upton; brothers, Tony Wallace (Roslyn), J.J. Wallace III (Rhonda), and Wendell Upton and niece Angel Upton; sister, Sarah Hodges (Johnathen). She is also survived by other loving family members and friends.

Condolences and other information are available online at www.riverwoodfamily.com.