A celebration of Melissa Sue Caves Cothren's life will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Meadville, MS at 11:00 AM. Friends and family will have a time of visitation beginning at 9:00 AM until the time of the service. Interment will follow at Nunnery Cemetery in Amite County. Rev. Bruce McKenzie will be officiating the services with Franklin Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Melissa passed from this life on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at the age of 55. She was born on February 5, 1971 in Wesson, MS to Mr. Charles Dale Caves and Mrs. Helen Sue Rushing Caves. She was a 1990 graduate of Bogue Chitto High School. In August of 1991, Melissa married Chris, the love of her life. They went on to have 2 children. Over the next 34 years, Melissa had many titles. These included home maker, cake decorator and housekeeper, but her favorite titles were wife, Mama and Mimi.

She enjoyed spending time with and taking care of her family. She also loved tending to her chickens, working in her garden and traveling. As any person in her family will tell you, she was also known as a wonderful cook.

Preceding her in death were her paternal grandparents, James Wilbur Caves and Junie Angus Prather Caves; maternal grandparents, Dennis Rushing and Virginia Smith Boswell along with her niece, Shelbie Lynn Fuller.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 34 years, Chris Cothren; daughter, Samantha Cothren; son, Daniel Cothren; her parents, sister, Sabrina Fuller (Joe); brothers, Brian Caves, James Caves (Tara) and granddaughter, Paisley Cothren along with a host of family and friends.

Pallbearers are Justin Stevens, Tristan Fuller, Zachary Fuller, Jesse Caves, Tyler Carlisle, and Kyle Nunnally.

The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support during this time.