Melissa Shopshear Reiter

Melissa Shopshear Reiter, 68, passed away from younger-onset Alzheimer’s on Saturday, October 21, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Melissa was born in Richmond, Virginia on August 11, 1949 to Elizabeth and Worley Shopshear. She was the middle of five daughters and grew up in Virginia, Ohio, and Hawaii before returning to central Virginia in her teens. Shortly after graduating from Hopewell High School in 1967, she worked at Chesapeake and Potomac (C&P) Telephone Company, where she was the first woman in Virginia to work as an outdoor telephone technician. In addition to being a pioneer for other women in the field, she also met her husband, Joseph Franklin Reiter, at C&P. They married in January 1975 and lived together until 2014, when Melissa became too ill to be cared for at home. Melissa and Joe had four daughters: Emily, Amanda, Elizabeth, and Abigail.

In addition to raising their own children, Melissa also helped raise various nieces and nephews, and children from China, Ecuador, Korea, Mexico, Sudan, and the US. Melissa opened her home to families and immigrants from around the world through her work as the Executive Director of the Tri-City Literacy Council (TCLC). She started at the TCLC as a volunteer of basic adult literacy and as an ESL tutor, then served as the Executive Director for 18 years. During that time, she helped hundreds of people learn to read and speak English, achieve their GED and obtain their citizenship. She also taught literacy in the prisons, worked with homeless residents in the area, volunteered at local schools with special needs children, and coached her children’s softball and basketball teams for many years. Melissa was active in the Methodist church where she taught children’s Sunday school and summer vacation Bible school. Melissa believed in public education and access to a quality education was the right of everyone.

Melissa appreciated nature and enjoyed taking walks with her children and friends. On walks, she could be found crafting adventurous tales for her children’s delight, or listening to a daughter or friend share their thoughts. Melissa enjoyed sewing and was quite artistic. She painted and drew, and enjoyed refinishing antiques. Melissa played the trombone and believed early exposure to music was important. Even as her illness progressed, Melissa sang to her grandchildren and enjoyed watching them dance and sing. Melissa was an excellent chef and made delicious pies. Everyone was welcome at her table. She was also incredibly creative and possessed a sharp wit, and Melissa could always be counted on for an honest opinion. She encouraged others to think independently and critically, and to believe in themselves. Through local efforts, Melissa confronted racism, hatred, bigotry, and sexism. She believed it was a necessity to work toward understanding one another and that we must maintain hope for a kinder world.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Worley Shopshear; and two sisters, Candace Merritt and Amanda Shopshear. She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Joseph Reiter; four daughters, Dr. Emily (and Dr. John) Goddard of Portland, OR; Dr. Amanda (and Dr. Will) Boomershine of Wilmington, NC; Dr. Elizabeth Reiter of Southern Pines, NC; and Dr. Abigail Reiter of Cary, NC; grandsons Luke and Henry Goddard; granddaughters Samantha and Sofia Boomershine; sisters Ann Scarborough and Melanie Johnson; and close family friend, Mathew Artis.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 28, at 11am at JT Morriss & Son Funeral Home, 6616 Boydton Plank Road. All are invited to share their memories of Melissa. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association (link to: https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1&type=homepage-donate-list-link ).
The family would like to thank all of her caregivers at Dinwiddie Health and Rehabilitation Center and James River Home Health and Hospice.