A seven-pound six-ounce Babygirl was born in Cleveland Ohio, on November 11, 1980 to a young married couple, Anthony and Kristina Hurd. An unknown birth defect was discovered, followed by weeks of searching for answers. When she was in pain her Dad would walk with her in the wee hours of the morning and still go to work every day. By God’s grace her pediatrician remembered a fellow student from medical school and thought he may have some answers. He did. She had Biliary Atresia. Thankfully, Surgery was performed and her life was saved. At that time the oldest living child with this birth defect was twelve years old. The Lord gave us an extra thirty-three years with our first-born daughter Melissa Anne Hurd, affectionately known as Missie. To God be the glory for the great things he has done!

Missie was a joyful, rambunctious child always into something and wanting to have her own way. Her partner in crime Stacie K. was born two and a half years later; our lives were doubly blessed. Their full-time job was playing church after church. Singing, preaching, shouting, and taking up an offering. Missie accepted Christ at the age of seven, under the leadership of our God Father
the late William T. Sawyer Jr. (Lady Doris). Her love for Christ and prayer was later nurtured by Pastors Tossie and Rita Wiley. Gary and Jan Pleasant continued to care for Missie and cover her in prayer. Missie attended Cleveland Public Schools until entering the Shaker Heights School System, where she graduated in the Class of 1999. Missie continued her education at the University of Akron. She loved being a member and traveling with the gospel choir. She worked in the campus library and registrar’s office. Missie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Politics with a minor in Political Science.

Missie loved working with people and found her career path in the hospitality industry as well as patient services at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital. Missie loved the Lord, her family, spending time with her love Chris, being a step-mom to Stanley Jones Jr. and Messiah James Bolden, hanging out with friends, laughing and having fun. Her laugh was very infectious and distinct.
Her favorites: Home Alone, The Grinch and Clueless, Martin, all Ohio sports teams and her favorite color was purple. After an unexpected medical emergency, Missie peacefully went to sleep on
October 28, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Missie impacted all our lives tremendously and we will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her grandparents and a host of relatives. The honor of carrying her legacy will rest upon, her parents, her loving sister, her brother Mike (Jai), her BFF Twyla, her love Christopher (Messiah), Stanley Jr., aunts, uncles, cousins, co-workers, and many friends.