Presenting...Melissa Lee

(Source: Melissa Lee)

Painesville resident Melissa Lee is an author and local philanthropist who uses her personal experiences to bring comfort, support, and hope to people who have endured difficult circumstances. Through her books, nonprofit organization, and character, Lee demonstrates the importance of supporting others through any given situation.

In June of 2018, Lee’s life was changed after a horrific car accident took the lives of three of her family members, one of the victims being her 12-year-old daughter, Makayla Lanier. While laying on the couch in her living room on the night of the accident, Lee realized that she was experiencing what mothers have been experiencing for years.

“On the night that I lost my daughter, I realized ‘I am not the only one who lost a child tonight; somebody else lost a child!” Lee said. “And we never think “oh, somebody else is going through this.”

It was not long after this that Lee decided to share her story and wrote her first book Immeasurable Pain, her goal being to help other grieving people.

“I knew that I could help someone else and it took me a while to figure out that it’s not always about me, even though I was dealing with so much after losing my daughter and my family members,” Lee said. I said “You know what? I can help somebody else by allowing them to hear my story and let them know that there is a rainbow at the end.”

It was her support system and her relationship with God that helped her to get through this devastating time in her life. By reading Immeasurable Pain, Lee hopes that readers will look at their difficult situation from a different perspective, build a relationship with God, and find hope.

Lee is also in the process of releasing her second book Walking in It, which focuses on the aftermath of the accident, and how she has managed to get through each day.

“This is not only for grieving people,” Lee said. “It is also for people who come out of every circumstance and continue their lives after anything that they’ve ever been through...that they thought they never could get through.”

Left to right: Melissa Lee's book, Immeasurable Pain; Author Melissa Lee promoting her book at a church book fair (Source: Melissa Lee)

Lee is also the founder of Bondage, Breakthrough, and Blessings, a nonprofit organization for men and women (ages 13 and up) that focuses on recognizing bondage and learning how to overcome it. These three specific areas (bondage, breakthrough, and blessings) will involve the discussion of a series of topics that will help with overcoming bondage, achieving breakthrough, and receiving blessings.

Lee plans to meet with participants at a restaurant or via zoom call at least one to two times a month to have open discussion. She also protects the privacy of others, enforcing the rule that “what is said here, stays here.” Through Bondage, Breakthrough, and Blessings, Lee would like to create a support system for participants to help one another.

When people are in need of support and guidance, Lee is always open to talk to anyone at any time. She makes herself available to talk to people about a variety of topics, from bullying to how to approach different situations. Her goal is to help whomever is in need.

“It is never a bother if I can help. I just believe in helping and blessing someone, because you never know what somebody is going through… I know what I went through.”

Lee's Bondage, Breakthrough, and Blessings business card (Source: Melissa Lee)

Aside from her book and her work with her organization, Lee has LifeCoach and Behavioral Health certifications, which she earned in the effort to understand the different perspectives of people. She is even in the process of creating another organization, Kaysway Healthcare, which will be dedicated to helping people with disabilities, in honor of her daughter Makayla Lanier.

“I named it after my daughter because she had a love for everyone,” Lee said. “She was a special person. She just loved everybody.”

Lee and her family (Source: Melissa Lee)

As for her greatest influence, Lee acknowledges her church, Lady Charlene Coffee, and her husband Chris Lee, whom she credits for encouraging, supporting, and praying for her through it all.

To people who are experiencing challenging circumstances, Lee encourages them to continue to move forward.

“Keep pressing on, it’s not over with,” Lee said. “Don’t give up. Keep your head up high.”

To purchase Immeasurable Pain, visit amazon.com. To stay up to date on all of Melissa Lee’s ventures and other important information, email her at BBBthroughchrist@gmail.com. ​