Melissa L. Bender, 44 of Friendswood, TX passed away on September 29, 2016, at MD Anderson Cancer Center i;n Houston, TX after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. She was born on March 9, 1972 in Hazlehurst, MS to James Bernice Lowe and Barbara Armstrong Lowe. Melissa graduated from Lawrence County High School in 1990. She continued her education at Mississippi State University, graduating in 1995 with a degree in chemical engineering. Melissa was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority while at MSU. She pursued a career in environmental engineering until 2004, she decided to become a homemaker and raise her two precious children, Madeline and Matthew Bender. She was married her husband Eric Bender for 20 years. Melissa was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Launa and Bernice Lowe; and her maternal grandparents, Bernice and Burnett Armstrong. Melissa is survived by her husband, Eric James Bender;daughter, Madeline Grace Bender; and son, Matthew James Bender; father, James Bernice Lowe and mother, Barbara Armstrong Lowe; sister Sallie Stevens and husband Stacy Stevens; brother Billy Lowe and wife, Dori Lowe; niece, Ella Lowe; nephews, Sam Stevens, Walt Lowe, and Lane Lowe.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 6, 2016 beginning at 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM at Wilson Funeral Home. Graveside service will be Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 4:00 PM at Lowe Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Christopher Newman, Jaymie Palmer, Jacob Lowe, Ryan Farthing, Jess Carter, and Damond Ready. In Lieu of flower, donations can be made in memory of Melissa Bender to the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, 1100 Industrial Road #1, San Carlo, CA 94070, (650) 598-2857, or directly at https://www.lungcancer-foundation.org/contribute/one-time-gift/.