About the Family
Melissa was born in Newton on June 27, 1961 to William ("Bill") and Joyce Lawing Seagle. She graduated from Newton-Conover High School in 1979 and from Wake Forest University in 1983 with a degree in sociology. Melissa worked for the Catawba County Sheriff's Department until she and Lance were married in August 1985. They immediately moved to Winston-Salem for Lance to begin law school at Wake Forest University School of Law. While Lance was earning his law degree, Melissa worked in the Alumni office of the University Relations department. When Lance and Melissa decided for Lance to return to the Air Force after his graduation from law school in 1988, Melissa left her position at Wake Forest to become a full-time homemaker and, seven months later, a stay-at-home mother to their son Kirk. Daughter Leah joined the family two years later, and Melissa has remained a full-time mother and homemaker ever since.
While Lance served in the Air Force, Melissa's main interests have centered on the home, family, and church. Melissa has always found a way to serve their church, beginning at First Methodist Church of Panama City, Florida and then at United Methodist Church in Chugiak, Alaska. When the children began school in 1994 at Warrenwood Elementary School in Fayetteville, NC, Melissa quickly became active in the school, both in the children's classrooms and by serving as the fundraising chairman of the PTA for the school year 1996-1997. In 1997, Melissa earned the "Volunteer of the Year" award for her work at the school. After moving to Germany and making the decision to homeschool their children, Melissa was active in a local homeschool co-op group, as well as serving as vice-president of the women's group of their church, Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Mission. The move to the Washington, DC suburb of Waldorf, Maryland brought many opportunities for both Melissa and the children. While she continued to homeschool both children, they were involved in numerous activities such as Boy Scouts, martial arts, fencing, piano, violin, gymnastics, and horseback riding, just to name a few! Melissa was chosen as president of their church women's group, and taught classes for the local homeschool support group.
In 2004, Melissa began and managed a long-distance major remodel and renovation of her family home in Newton, in preparation for Lance's retirement and their subsequent return to Catawba County. In 2005, after Lance retired, the family moved from Maryland to Newton, along with the family dachshund (TJ), cat (Stormy), and horse (Noah). After spending several months settling in to the newly renovated home, Melissa became the "executive assistant" for Lance's law practice, all while continuing to homeschool the children (who were now in high school), manage the house, help Kirk with his college search and application process, and trailering Leah and her horse Noah to numerous training sessions and competitions. Lance and Melissa, along with their two children, have joined the same church where they were married in 1985, Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church in Newton, where Melissa is on the Administrative Board and will be assuming the co-presidency of the United Methodist Women's group beginning in January, 2008.
Kirk was born in 1989 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Kirk joined Cub Scouts in the first grade and continued into Boy Scouts, eventually earning the rank of Life Scout. Kirk began studying Taekwondo at Southern Maryland Martial Arts Academy, and earned his brown belt before moving to North Carolina. Unable to find a local Taekwondo studio in the area, Kirk began weight-training and running. As a high school junior, Kirk competed in debate in the National Christian Forensics and Communication League. Graduating from high school a semester early gave Kirk the time and opportunity to work as a "roving teller" for People's Bank in Catawba County before beginning college in August 2007. He is currently a freshman at Wake Forest University, where he is a Freshman Representative to the Student Government, a member of the Technology Program, the Entrepreneurship Society, and the Japanese Club. Kirk plans to double major in business and Japanese. He is planning to spend a semester in Japan in 2009. After graduation, Kirk hopes to attend law school.
Leah was born in 1991 in Panama City, Florida. Leah's passion since she can remember has been horses, and she began riding lessons in Germany at age 9. In 2003, at the age of 12, Leah was the youngest rider to compete on a National Capitol Equitation League team in hunt seat equitation. Leah is also involved in two 4-H clubs, and is active in the 4-H Horse program. In 2007, Leah earned a position as one of a four-member team representing the state of NC at two competitions in hippology (the study of the horse) at the national level. Leah's team placed first over teams from approximately 28 other states at both competitions. She currently competes in 3-day eventing on her horse Noah, and is training her second horse, Stroker, to compete in dressage. Leah currently works several days each week at the barn where her horses live, and several weekends each month assisting a local equine veterinarian. She will graduate in 2009 and plans to go to college with the goal of attending veterinarian school in the future.
And not to forget the other members of the family:
T.J. was a Christmas present, and joined the family as a puppy in 1994. He is a standard dachshund, and had the opportunity to learn about his native country when the family moved to Germany in 1997. He is getting a little slower and a little grayer, but is still very fierce and protective whenever the doorbell rings!
Stormy the cat joined the family in 2000 after their return from Germany. Found as a very small kitten at the local Humane Society, Stormy has grown into a very large but beautiful gray tabby. Stormy spends most of his time sleeping on the couch and watching the squirrels and birds at the feeders just outside the window.
The newest member of the household is Scotty - a rescued stray who looks like a mix of Scottish terrier and dachshund. He was very timid at first, and may have been abused, but has adapted quickly to life inside and enjoys sleeping in the warm, dry house when it's cold and wet outside.
The equine members of the family are "I Know a Secret" (Noah) and "Stroke of Luck" (Stroker). Noah joined the family in 2004 in Maryland, and moved to NC with everyone in 2005. Stroker was found here in Catawba County, and joined the family in 2006.
