Melissa is from Greenwood, Mississippi, and moved to Big Creek when she was in 7th grade. Her dad was from Calhoun County and moved with the family after completing medical school.. She has always loved dogs and grew up with Shih Tzus, Rottweilers, Dobermans and Boston Terriers while in Greenwood. Quite the diverse bunch. It wasn’t until 2019 in Big Creek that she began to build her current canine pack with her family: fiance Toby, sons Justin(23), Lane(21), Braden(16), stepsons Bailey(15) and Brody(11). Cotton, a white English Lab was the first canine member added to this brood and later that year she adopted Georgia, her first ever goldendoodle looking for a less shedding friend for Cotton. During the next 18 months that followed, 6 more pups were added to this family and thoughts of breeding began to emerge.
The rundown…Cash is a chocolate goldendoodle, Gemma a black standard poodle, Louis a standard red poodle, Andi abstract standard poodle, Ruby one of Georgia’s golden doodle puppies, Hank a standard parti doodle, and little Jewels a micro mini doodle. Each child has a favorite of the pack. Justin, Braden and Bailey’s favorite is Cotton who was named after the family business of cotton farming and is a known food thief. He has stolen many delicious items but his crown jewel was a roast he got from the counter just last week! Brody’s favorite fur sister is Jewels, aka “Little” because she looks like a little chicken nugget and really tries to run the show especially with Ruby her namesake! Ruby was named after Melissa’s birthstone and yes, she is Georgia’s real baby and a food thief like her Uncle Cotton.She stole a turkey sandwich Melissa made for Toby a few days ago during this interview.
Each pup had their names chosen thoughtfully and carefully. Cash’s name comes from his spunk and thug attitude. Gemma’s name is after the mother from the show, “Sons of Anarchy” because she listens to no one but Melissa. Louis’ name stems from the brand Louis Vuitton, and Andi’s name came from Melissa’s father. Georgia, to whom this tribute is very centric, has a more detailed history to her name. She was named after the summer Melissa spent in Georgia. It is from a coming of age summer as a twelve year old Melissa spent with her family in Atlanta when her father was going through his residency and doing rounds there. It was a memorable and nostalgic summer for her and her cousin Rachael that she brought with her. She said that she remembered 4 things from that summer. One, they had day passes to Six Flags and went every single day. Two, Rachael started her period for the first time and wouldn’t go swimming when Melissa wanted to. Three, they saw their upstairs neighbors and thought they were the “finest” guys they had ever seen. (Many, many years later they realized they were gay.) And four, they found to never drink butter pecan ice cream milkshakes again. They insisted on making them and it was the only ice cream in the freezer. Once made, the girls discovered they were gross, but Melissa’s dad insisted they eat/drink every bite so as not to go to waste!! Even though the memories aren’t sounding idealistic, they are all still so dear to her heart just like Georgia.
Georgia is Melissa’s constant shadow. She goes to work with her every day at Bella Mia Salon in Oxford where her mom is a super stylist in many areas and has quite the following. They have nearly a 4 hour commute 5 days a week. Georgia is so good and perfect that she led Melissa to a love of goldendoodles and inspired her to let Georgia have a litter of puppies with a specially chosen mate. In March of 2021, Melissa helped her deliver 10 perfect goldendoodles and find loving homes for all. Nine of the litter mates, including Ruby, come to the Spaw for their beauty and maintenance each month. Melissa has developed her own reputable breeding company Reese’s Doodles and Poodles and has even assisted with breeding and delivering another litter of goldendoodles in July of 2021. She’s found loving homes for all. Melissa brings her own fur babies to the Spaw monthly and it is quite the compliment for us to be trusted and recommended so highly by her as a Licensed Cosmetologist, breeder and simply the most precious individual. Each of her pups cer