Melanie A. Dickey

Melanie A. Dickey

Strong, caring, giving, open-minded, gorgeous

Non-judgmental and caring, with a great spirit, Melanie saw the glass not just half full, but all the way full, all the time. Melon, as she was known to her best friend, Ashley, “was my one true best friend, the kind that only comes around once in your entire life. Once they are gone, it’s like the part of you that was most alive is now dead with them.”

Melanie loved music, shopping, and doing her makeup and hair. Time with her two cats, Heidi and Pookie, was always a treat for Melanie. The two friends made a big deal of Christmas and Halloween each year. “Melon literally saved my not so happy household one year by buying me everything I needed for Christmas, down to the tree decorations. She didn’t miss anything. It was so surprising and generous. I know she didn’t have the money to spare.” Halloween meant matching outfits for the two friends. One year, Melon was a marvelous Wonder Woman, really pulling off the look.

Melanie was an excellent artist. She could paint, draw, do calligraphy and graffiti. She valued her sisters, Tracey and Sabrina, and another best friend, Josh. She was just starting to explore the spiritual side of her life. At the same time, things were going downhill in the last few months of her life and Melanie rarely went outside of her house.

Melanie ruined her body and had “become an empty shell of what one would think of in terms of a person,” Ashley stated. She died at a young age from the damaging effects of IV drug use. “It was a tough to watch someone you love become a complete stranger right in front of you.” Ashley said.

Ashley’s life has been affected in many ways since the experience of losing her best friend, Melon. She feels blessed that she has made it out alive especially since she has lost so many people she deeply loved because of the effects of their substance use disorder. “The odds are truly against you in this fight,” Ashley stated. “I miss Melon’s smile and our talks. I would give just about anything on the planet to talk to her just one last time.”

Melanie’s best friend, Ashley Cox, provided the information for this narrative.
April 11, 1987-December 22, 2018-Age 31

Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois

Share this story from The INTO LIGHT Project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

More Into Light Stories

Read more biographies from this exhibit.
Devin Hart Bearden

Devin Hart Bearden

Caring, athletic, bright, witty, attractive At 6’2”, Devin was lanky, handsome, and a natural athlete. Equally at home on a skateboard, snowboard, or when surfing, he was a pleasure to watch; so fluid and graceful. He was a good soccer and baseball player and loved hiking in nature or being at the beach, especially on the annual family beach trips to Hatteras in North Carolina. [...]
Read More »
Colton Taylor Barnett

Colton Taylor Barnett

Adventurous, kind, the light of my life! Lighthearted and funny, Colton was caring and considerate to everyone he knew or met. He was always positive, no matter the situation. He enjoyed sports and, though skateboarding was his favorite, he also played football, baseball, and frisbee golf. [...]
Read More »
Aaron Linton Brawley

Aaron Linton Brawley

He blessed my life beyond imagination. From an early age, Aaron was sensitive to others’ feelings, and was constantly concerned about those less fortunate, the environment, and the world around him. This may have been because of his role as proud eldest brother to his siblings, Patrick, and Maggie. When his parents broke the news to them about their divorce, Aaron—only ten then—did not cry. Rather, he listened carefully and asked practical questions. [...]
Read More »
Patrick Neil Brawley

Patrick Neil Brawley

A life well lived, despite the struggles. Patrick was driven with a curiosity about the world around him. From a young age, this manifested itself in mischievous experiments and creative solutions to his problems. When he was two years old, dissatisfied with his dirty room, he dragged the garden hose into the house to clean it himself. A few years later, infatuated with the idea of fire, he set some toys in his closet on fire because he wanted to know how they would burn. This then extended to a neighbor’s decorative grass, as well as his little sister Maggie’s hair. [...]
Read More »

Bring an Exhibit to Your State