Melissa Dawn James, 54, of Austin, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2025.  She was born August 20, 1970 in North Little Rock to Donnie and Charlotte (Starkey) Jensen.

As a little girl at her Nanny and PaPa's house, there was a mean rooster named "Rojo the Rooster."  He was a terror to all the grandkids and extended family.  We all ran from him- terrified he'd peck us to death, but Melissa was the only one who would run toward him– unafraid, inquisitive, and wanting to make a friend.  This is how she lived her life.

Melissa's first years were in Rose City, where she went to elementary school.  Even in kindergarten, she was not a fan of school.  At her first conference, Melissa was playing around her teacher's desk, and her teacher told Charlotte, "Oh yeah, Melissa gonna do just fine, I just let her take her time – just let her take her time."  This would ultimately be a self-fulfilling prophecy, for from then on, she did what she wanted and on her own terms – and took her time.

After moving to Cabot around seven, Melissa spent the rest of her school years in Cabot Schools. She hated school, but whichever grade she was in, she made sure she had a good time – and took her time doing it!

At the end of the shaded drive on Hickory Street – last house in the cul-de-sac, the Jensen's made their home there for 48 years. This was the house that built Melissa, for that house was the center of her world.  She was also raised by special extended friends who became family – the Lee's, the Henry's, and the Palladino's.  In the neighborhood, they looked after one another and celebrated holidays and momentous occasions together, but they also showed support for one another during difficult times, sharing in each other's struggles.  This was the foundation that shaped Melissa's heart as she gave back to family and friends.

Melissa could talk her way out of anything!  She had a good rapport with her teachers and administration. At the end of her senior year, she learned that she was not going to graduate because she had missed over half the required days.  With her beautiful bubbly self, she bounced with charisma into the office to see the principal, Mr. Bridwell, and came out as a graduating senior.

She had an aura about her that was so inviting, and she pulled people into her world with those sparkling eyes.  As a friend put it, "She was a soul without walls – open, genuine, and a true friend to all who knew her.

In the 80's and 90's, Melissa loved big hair, pink Aqua Net, big jewelry, and blue eyeshadow.  Go Big or Go Home was her motto. She loved hair and makeup and had an uncanny ability to put an outfit together; she was flamboyant – knew how to dress to the hilt, and it came naturally.  In all her jobs, she interacted with people with love and respect, and her customers often became her personal friends.  Not only did she have an amazing personality, but she was also so funny; you could hear her laugh from a block away. She was never sad and always had a joyful smile on her face, ready to tackle each day.  Her tender heart reached beyond her family and friends, and she was always protective of the people she loved.

Melissa had a sweet spirit about her that was so calming to people. In her bedroom, she had an entire wall that was nothing but telephone numbers of people she had met, some written on napkins in bright red lipstick.  She couldn't go anywhere without talking to complete strangers – and when they departed, they were friends, and Melissa would have their phone number and add it to her "contact list."

When Charlotte and Angee would go shopping with her, they would have to beg her to go back to the car, for she was always engaged in a prolonged conversation: "Come on Melissa, they don't want to know about that."  They would beg her, "Don't make eye contact." And one time she finally left a conversation and was almost to the car, and a man stopped her and told her how beautiful she was – and there it went again, Charlotte signing and Angee shaking her head.  There's no telling how many angels she had spoken to unaware.

Melissa wanted to have fun although she made impromptu decisions at times, but when she made her mind up, everyone knew it. Back then every call outside Cabot was long distance, and Donnie and Charlotte would receive shockingly high phone bills, but of course, she was able to talk her way out of it – leaving everyone smiling and laughing.

At 14, when Melissa started driving solo, she got a ticket over by the police station and Freds for burning the tires at the stop light. Donnie was so mad; he grounded her from the car and took the battery cables off, so she wouldn't drive it. She had gone out to the car ready for a spin, and the car wouldn't start, so she called the local mechanic at Fina to come over and fix it. The fix was easy, and when Donnie got home from work, he realized his plan had failed - and had a bill from the mechanic as well. However, it was all of Donny's fault because he spoiled her with cars and taught her how to drive at ten years old, and she drove to school at 14.

Many phone numbers on her wall came from people she had met while cruising down the streets of Levy and Geyer Springs. She didn't like to be alone, and when she was 16, many people were honored to ride shotgun with her in her 1968 Apple Candy Camaro Convertible with a 327 engine with two white stripes in the middle of the hood.

The car was a definite boy magnet – with white leather seats and a white top. However, every time she would put on the brakes, the horn would blow, and this allowed people to come up to the car and check it out, and of course Melissa became friends with them – regardless of age, race, or background- and added their names and numbers to her wall of contacts.

Melissa and Steve were married almost 24 years. Their most treasured memories were going to the beach every year, and what Steve will miss the most is waking up next to her every morning and talking with her.   Raising four boys was not a challenge to her, for she cared for them and loved them.  She led them as a family and enjoyed all their sports and adventures.  Oh, how she loved a special school project she made for the boys for school.

She thought her daddy had hung the moon, and she devoted time each morning to having coffee with her mama and visiting for a while. She always helped her mama by taking her to the doctor, making her meals, and always being such a big help.  Charlotte's favorite time of the day was when Melissa came bouncin' in the door smiling.

She and Angee were best friends, and Melissa looked up to her as if she were the big sister.  They loved each other fiercely, protected one another, and shared each other's burdens. She was so happy when CJ was born, and she spoiled him the best she could – enjoying her time with him on her days off and protecting him by tooth and nail.  She cut his hair for decades, and he will certainly miss this special time with her. He said that "she was the best mama ever" and "she was always there for me."

Melissa always looked after Angee and would often speak up for her when she couldn't.  She made her feel safe and taught her so much.  She was like a second mama to Lexy and Boots – and was devastated when Lexy passed away. She was always making them feel good about themselves and was there in a heartbeat if they needed her.  Angee's first memory is of Melissa pulling her around on her little red wagon with such care, and thereafter, Melissa was always there to make sure Angee got off the school bus safely.

Melissa's nephew, Boots, was her little shadow and they became each other's person. They were always together, and they both helped each other to heal.  She took him to get donuts almost every day after school and was the only one who would play video games with him.  When Boots was having trouble with some new math problems, Melissa told him that she had never used that a day in her life.  Boots proceeded to tell his teacher, "My Sissy didn't learn that in 4th grade, and my Sissy said I don't need this, and I'll never use it," and his teacher responded, "I think I need to meet this Sissy of yours." His favorite thing about Sissy was that she was always happy and loved to joke around: "She was always there for me, and I want to do everything she ever wanted me to do to make her proud." Melissa loved Boots so much and was so patient with him.

Sometimes life doesn't' seem fair, and beautiful loved ones are snatched from our reach when we least expect it.  But there is hope, for Paul tells us that "Death is swallowed up in Victory" for those who know Him.  Melissa is breathing fully before the throne of God, and there is no doubt that she has had multiple conversations already with Jesus, Peter, and Paul.  Basking in the bright lights of Heaven, chasing ole' "Rojo the Rooster," pulling Lexy around in a little red wagon – and taking her time.

Melissa was saved as a teenager, and her joy, grace, and compassion were gifts from the Lord.  She had a heart for helping people and truly cared about them. Reach out to a stranger today, make them feel valued and loved! Know that we are only here for a little while, so pick up your "contact list" and reach out to a friend in need or an acquaintance who could use your help. Laugh loudly and tell your family how much you love them, mend broken fences, and allow God to bring out your spiritual gifts, so you can make a difference in the lives of others and shine your light.

Melissa was preceded in death by her grandparents, Leroy and Hazel Jensen and Thelma Starkey and niece, Lexy Simpkins; father and mother-in-law, Charles R and Peggy Ann James; brothers-in-law, David Allen James and Terry Lee James.

Those left to cherish her memory and to miss her dearly are her husband, Steve James; sons, Carson Cash, Michael James, Craig James, and Josh James; grandchildren, Lainey, Haley and Rivers James; parents, Donnie and Charlotte Jensen; sister, Angee Kennedy (Richard); nephew, Boots Kennedy and fur baby, Minnie.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home with Stubby Stumbaugh officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.