Melissa Gayle Bratton

Melissa Bratton, 29, died Friday, April 27, 2007 in a local hospital. Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Chaplains Chris Hale and Jack Smith officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Garden of Memories Cemetery. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Melissa was born October 28, 1977 in Portales, New Mexico to Delmar "Buddy" and Barbara Johnson Sessums. She was a 1996 Cooper High School graduate. She attended Cisco Junior College and graduated from Hendrick School of Radiology where she was employed as a Radiology Technician. Melissa was a long time resident of Abilene. She is survived by her parents, Buddy and Barbara Sessums of Abilene; a daughter, Drew Baylee Bratton and her father Zack Bratton of Abilene; two brothers, Darrell "Beau" Sessums and wife, Heather, and their children (Melissa's nieces) Shailee Strevy and Kinsey Sessums, all of Abilene; Ryan Sessums of Abilene; her paternal grandmother, Lorene Sessums of Hillsboro, her maternal grandparents, Harvey and Mildred Johnson of Cisco, Texas; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She will be truly missed by her family and many friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Justin Burkhaulter, Dusty Maston, Jared Maston, Darrin Thomas, Joe Travis, and Scott Tweedie. Memorials may be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.