Thread by @WayneGoodwinNC

After 11 years of courageously battling cancer, my wife, former State Representative Melanie Wade Goodwin, passed away yesterday evening with her children & me by her side. Now free from pain and receiving the comfort and peace she has earned, ... #ncpol
(1/17)

Melanie's legacy of public service and fighting valiantly for what she believed in will go on.

As an attorney, Melanie represented families in court torn by divorce or who were victims of domestic violence, and she helped workers hurt on the job. (2/17) @NCAJ_ @NCBAorg

As a legislator, the first woman elected to represent Richmond County in the General Assembly, Melanie sponsored legislation that strengthened investments in public education and in rural communities, helped improve public health and the courts system, (3/17) @NCHouseDems #ncpol

... & she always, always, always stood up for women's rights & women's health. She also made history as the 1st sitting NC legislator to have a child while serving in office, which prompted then-House Speaker Joe Hackney to approve a small nursery ... (4/17) #ncpol @LilliansList

for use in the Legislative Bldg by legislators w/newborn children or grandchildren. (Over the yrs she proudly brought both our children to the Legislature, where they witnessed their strong mother, a leader, stand up for other children, families, women, & the voiceless.) (5/17)

Melanie also made an important mark as Chair of the House Election Laws & Campaign Reform Committee where she brought about progressive, good government, voter-friendly changes to our laws. She was instrumental in passage of laws that improved the integrity of elections (6/17)

... and of the campaign process.

As she was strong and independent and caring, she also was incredibly patient w/ me during our 22 yrs of marriage. We knew we were meant to be married by the time of our third date and often received a combination of eye-rolls and smiles (7/17)

... from folks who witnessed our frequent public displays of affection - sneaking a kiss now a then, sometimes waltzing, or always holding hands - both in the halls of the legislature & the aisles of the Food Lion. She is the love of my life. And I'm better in every way (8/17)

because of Melanie.

Even as she underwent all the painful treatments & surgeries of fighting a #breastcancer that wouldn't give up, she didn't give up, either: Melanie worked as long as she could in her final yrs & months, & up until a few weeks ago this Summer as ... (9/17)

Chief Deputy Commissioner of the NC Industrial Commission. There she again used her skills & the law to hear cases, & make rulings that were fair, just, grounded in the law, and empathetic to the parties appearing before her.

Her public service was not just in the ... (10/17)

... legislature or with the Industrial Commission, though: Her first work between undergraduate school at @UNC and law school at @CampbellLawNow was for many years at the NC Council for Women, helping to award grants to domestic violence shelters and do other ... (11/17)

things that helped women and families in our great State.

Melanie succeeded in so many things -- as a mother, wife, daughter, friend, lawyer, legislator, public servant, citizen -- that I cannot recount them all. What I can say is that she was an incredible, awesome (12/17)

role model for our children, her nieces, & nephews, and young women seeking to change the world for the better.

On behalf of Melanie's family, I give thanks to the countless friends and strangers who have offered up prayers and words of comfort. (13/17) @ydnc @DemWomenofNC

I especially give thanks to her awesome, dedicated oncologist & nurses at Waverly Hematology Oncology; her therapist; the nurses & caregivers at @WakeMed-Cary; her surgeon at @UNC Hospitals; & the wonderful, caring hospice staff at Transitions in Raleigh, & to anyone ... (14/17)

... and everyone who cared for Melanie, especially her closest dear friends who helped her make it from day to day. Believe me, that is a lot of wonderful folks.

We will announce a celebration of her life & services of remembrance very soon. (15/17) @ESUMCraleigh

In closing, I paraphrase and personalize a message from a famous politician who also faced tragedy: ...

(16/17)

"For my family, a few hours ago, Melanie's life came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

For Melanie, with all my and your children's love.

#ncpol #family
(17/17)

Also a @UNCLoreleis alumna

UPDATE: The funeral service & celebration of the life of former State Representative Melanie Wade Goodwin will be broadcast via live stream from @EdentonStreetUMC in Raleigh at 2pm tomorrow, Friday, 4 Sept >> esumc.org/live/
Info: Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes, 919-828-4311