Tributes have been paid after the sudden death of a young woman who dedicated her life to helping others. Melissa Scott died on Monday, September 19, leaving behind her heartbroken family and friends.
A close friend said the 29-year-old was "one of the kindest people you could meet" and could "light up a room" with her bubbly personality and sense of humour. Natalie O'Neill told BelfastLive that everyone Melissa ever met would remember her making them laugh.
Melissa, from Bangor, had struggled in her life after losing her first love Curtis when she was 17. Natalie said: "When I first met Melissa I was her boss in Poundstretcher and I was instantly drawn to her and we quickly became very good friends.
"At the time she was struggling a lot after losing her boyfriend Curtis and she showed so much strength and courage in building herself back up again and from then she made it her life's mission to be there for others and to make them smile."
She started her own page online, Suicide Awareness by Melissa. There she encouraged people to speak about their mental health problems and helped others grieve the loss of a loved one.
"She was one of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met," said Natalie. "She just had a heart of gold and would do anything to help someone or brighten their day.
"Melissa was the type of person who was able to make friends with anyone and she would have you laughing so much that your cheeks and stomach hurt after a few minutes of talking to her."
Melissa was very close with her mum Kim and sister Carly. The sisters enjoyed traveling together with Melissa joining Carly for a year in Australia where she made hundreds of friends from across the world.
Natalie continued: "Melissa grew up with her mum and sister and the three of them were as close as you could be. Melissa was always talking about them and she was the first person I knew that would call her mum 'a legend'.
"She loved travelling and meeting new people and cultures, and had so many adventures during her year away in Australia to see Carly. She was thinking about staying out there but couldn't bear being apart from her mum for so long.
"They are all terribly heartbroken at her loss and are very thankful for all of the kind messages they have received from people across the world who loved and miss Melissa. We are just thankful that we have countless happy memories of her that will stay with us forever."
Melissa's funeral will take place at Roselawn Crematorium following a service at S Clarke & Son’s Funeral Church, Bangor, on Thursday, September 29.
