Melanie Ann Williamson passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Melanie was born on August 21, 1958, in Kokomo, Indiana, to Don and Doris (Pugh) Swinford. She was preceded in death by both of her parents; her brother-in-law, Steve Richardson; her father-in-law, John Williamson; and her mother-in-law, Pat Williamson.

During her childhood, she and her sister, Leslie, enjoyed spending time on Lake Tippecanoe in Kosciusko County, Indiana, where they fished and water-skied. She graduated from Carroll High School in Flora, Indiana, in 1976. Melanie was a member of the National Honor Society and was a cheerleader in high school. She then attended Ball State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in teacher education with a major in Spanish and a minor in English. While at Ball State, she was also heavily involved in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, where she held the positions of Pledge Trainer and Vice President.

Melanie began her teaching career in Illinois, where she taught Spanish. She was an avid traveler and spent time in Barcelona, Spain, where she also traveled throughout Europe. During her time in Spain, she taught English as a second language. Melanie also received a grant to travel to Mexico City to help produce educational materials.

After her travels, Melanie married John Williamson in 1995 in Winter Park, Florida. They recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Melanie worked as a teacher at Lyman High School, where she taught Spanish. Melanie and John had two daughters, Alexis (1998) and Marissa (2000). They resided in the Winter Garden area, which became their hometown. Melanie was a stay-at-home mother for thirteen years while raising their two daughters. After that time, she began working as a teacher at Bridgewater Middle School, where she taught reading and creative writing. During her time at Bridgewater, Melanie received the Teacher of the Year award. Some of her most cherished honors were the many letters of gratitude she received from her students and their parents. Her selfless attitude and passion for learning contributed greatly to her success in her various teaching roles.

Upon Melanie and John's retirement in 2022, they moved to Kingsland, Georgia, where they resided on the marsh. During retirement, she worked part-time at Amelia Linen and Wood in Fernandina Beach, Florida, a job she loved dearly.

Melanie loved to read and always had an endless to-be-read list. Her love for reading even extended to her email address — "MelanieReads24/7." She enjoyed reading at the beach, in her favorite chair, with her toes in the water. Her classroom library contained more than 1,000 books. At the end of each school year, when it came time to move classrooms, her family often joked that it was like moving the Library of Congress, but she would not have had it any other way.

Melanie's children were the love of her life. She always strived to make every moment magical for her family, especially when decorating for the holidays. She and her girls enjoyed cooking and crafting. As a family, they enjoyed traveling and spending time at the beach or pool. Melanie was considered by many to be a gourmet cook. She collected cookbooks and was always searching for new recipes to try.

Melanie touched the lives of so many around her. She was the epitome of a mother, wife, and friend. She was a great listener and a wonderful role model throughout her career. She was a remarkable woman who was well loved and always wore a smile on her face. She will be deeply missed by many.

She is survived by her husband, John Williamson; her daughters, Alexis and Marissa Williamson; her sister, Leslie Richardson; her brothers-in-law, Steve (Kay) Williamson, and Mike (Anne) Williamson; and her four nephews and their families.

Melanie's family would like to extend an invitation to a Celebration of Life in her honor. The service will be held at Westview Baptist Church in Sanford, Florida, on June 28, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. The address is 4100 H. E. Thomas Jr. Parkway, Sanford, FL 32771.

In Lieu of flowers; please donate to either: https://donate.pledgethepink.com/ or https://www.rif.org/

Please visit our website at allisonmemorialchapelandfuneralhome.com to leave a message on the guestbook for Melanie's family.

Allison Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.