Melissa Lee:
CLASS OF 1971
Bluefield High SchoolClass of 1971
Bluefield, WV
Central Junior High SchoolClass of 1967
Bluefield, WV
Melissa's Story
I moved to Salem Virginia in 1976, went to Clinical Laboratory Science school and nursing school. After completing my education I have worked in several healthcare facilities in the Roanoke Valley. Mostly for Carilion Hospital our number one trauma center and 14 years at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem, Va. in the ER and Pediatric departments. I am a life member of Salem Resue squad and presently teaching medical speciality classes at a private school in Salem, Va. I am married,going on 15 years, have a 14 year old son. Very happily married to a good ole country boy who is a good christian man and father. I reside very happily in a small country town called New Castle, Va. It is about 20 minutes from Salem or Roanoke Va. Really miss back home sometimes, but after my mother passed away in 1994, I sold her home and have never been back unless I go to place flowers on my parents grave.
I always wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a joke idea. As it turns out, they were wrong.
Thinking back starting from elementary school in Bluewell, life was wonderful. I had so many friends during those 6 years, friends that I thought I would have for a lifetime. Continuing on into Jr High at Central, life was still wonderful. Continued to have my old friends, and met new ones. The band and being a majorette was the center of my life. I can still remember the day I tried out for head majorette and won. The ninth grade was one of my best years. Going into High school at BHS my life changed and took a drastic turn. There were lots of new people, all my friends seemed to go in different directions. My father was diagnosed with cancer and passed away when I was in the 11th grade. Looking back, this is when my life did a complete turn around. I still managed to stay in the band and do my majorette thing, but things were never the same for me after losing my father. I was somewhat different from my close friends. I always treated everyone as equal. I just happen to establish a close relationship with a guy, who was in the band, marched behind me at all the football games and parades. He was an excellent trumpet player, I can still hear him playing the Star Spangle Banner out on the football field at Mitchell Stadium. We went from good friends to a little closer. What a natural thing to do, right? Well not so natural the years of 1970-1971.My relationship with this person was frowned upon by many, especially some of my closest friends. I can remember walking up to the friends I had been friends with since the 1st grade,and when I approached them they all walked away or ignored me. Looking back now on those years it is still somewhat heart breaking, but all is forgiven. You cannot go through your entire life holding grudges against those who you once loved and those who are so narrow minded. I am sure God intended my past to happen for a reason. I am now very much happily married to a wonderful man and I have a great, wonderful, handsome, and talented son. My life right now, I could not ask for more and I am so very blessed.
This is my story, one I have never been able to share with the ones I grew up with and loved so much. If you happen to read my story----please-----I hold no grudge. Some of you may not have any idea what in the world I am talking about, but there are others out there I know for sure who will know. None of us are perfect, I cannot say this was a mistake I made, only a choice I made that taught me a very valuable lesson. I can share my lifetime experiences with others in hopes that in some small way I can make a difference and influence in their life. This is the end of my story and so far it has a good ending. God Bless all of you.
Melissa Boone Lee
I always wanted to be a dancer when I grew up.I took dance lessons at Mrs. Salt's dance studio in Bluefield for 6 years. I was a very good dancer! My family and friends thought that was a joke idea. As it turns out, they were right. Dancing was not to be in my future.
If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have coffee, breakfast, and prayer to be able to deal with the day-to-day.I...Expand for more
spend every day of my classroom teachings conversing with my students for at least an hour about current events and life in general. This seems to break the boredom.
The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is Sharon Aksomitus, because she never judged me.
My sons favorite bible verse--I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me
If I won $100 million, I'd give 1 millon of it to cancer research, then spend the rest on me, Jamie and Jefferson.
My best friend would tell you I'm silly, but people who don't know me very well would probably describe me as a tough medical instructor.
I dress very stylish. I look very young for my age so I can get by with it.
In 10 years, I hope to be retired. I'm going to get there by continuing to work.
I met my oldest dearest friend Becky when I first moved to Salem Va. in 1976. We have been friends now for 32 years. We have been through alot together. She was a young divorced mother with two young sons. I was not married and had no children. We shared lots of good times on Salem rescue squad. When my mother became ill in 1990 she rode home with me to Bluewell almost every weekend. She helped me so very much through this difficult time. Had it not been for all the good friends I have in Salem, Va. the ER physicians I worked with, and my husband and cousin Kathy I would have been completely alone during that time of grief. Out of all the many friends I use to have while living in Bluewell, people who spent a many of night and weekend at my house when they were growing up----there were only a few people who took a few minutes of their time to come and pay their respect to my mother and I will mention Marilyn Stewart, Skipper Crane, Becky Wright Cooper, and Vickie Lawless. Of course my best of best friend Becky traveled from Salem to Bluewell to give me her support during this devastating time. Also the ER physicians and nursing staff from Lewis-Gale Emergency Department and a special thanks to Dr. Gary Parrish, who has always stood by me, never judged me, and who is my son's name sake.
In the 6th grade while we were sitting on the play ground during recess, Linda P. told me I was adopted. I left school, never went back in after recess and walked all the way home from Bluewell Elementary to confront my mother to ask her what did adopted mean.The year 1997 I went in search of my birth parents. I did find my birth mother who is a nurse and found out the history of my adoption. My mother was in nursing school at St Lukes Hospital in Blfd. and had an affair with a married Physician there at the hospital. Since my birth father was married and had two children of his own, and my bith mother was very young, single, and trying to get an education, she decided it would be best to put me up for adoption. I was adopted within five days of my birth. M birth mother is still living and now resides in Alaska.I also found out I have two half brothers and a hlaf sister on my mothers side. One brother I continue to keep in touch with. I will not give any information out about my birth father at this time, but he was a long time physician in the Bluefield, W.Va area and is still living from what I have heard. Presently my birth mother and I do not correspond with one another frequently, but we have an understanding. She knows how to contact me if need be as well as me contacting her if I should need her. I would prefer it remain distant like this. The only parents I will ever recognize is my adopted parents, Roy and Hazel Boone.
My current age is 55. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be old. I was so completely wrong.
During recess in the 5th grade, one of my good friends told me I was adopted and I left school, walked all the way home, talked with Mama and it was confirmed, I was adopted at the age of 5 days old!
My first job was at Bluefield Sanitarium, where I got paid 1.50 hr to 2.00. What I remember most about it is all the many things I learned as a nursing assistant that helped me when I became a nurse.
I share my home with my husband, my son and 8 cats, which I find never a dull moment.
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