Melissa Chance Cook

Melissa Chance Cook, 66 of Goose Creek, South Carolina, passed away on Thursday, October 30, 2025.

Born on November 12, 1958 in Hobbs, New Mexico, she was a daughter of Minnie Tobias and the late Hermann Chance.

Melissa worked in retail sales management for Kmart and Rite Aid. She retired after 23 years as Asset Protection/ loss Prevention Manager at Walmart.

Melissa loved the slot machines. She and Donald took 28 cruises on Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines. They took many trips to Las Vegas, NV; Atlantic City, NJ; and Biloxi, MS, where she was a regular winner on the slots. Like all visitors to Las Vegas, she was impressed by the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.

Melissa is preceded in death by her father, Hermann R. Chance and son, Kevin Ayers. 

Melissa is survived by her husband of 19 years, Donald R. Cook; mother, Minnie Leola Thriakill; son, Jason Ayers; daughters, Tiffany Paynter-Brannan (Mike) and Britny Paynter; sister, Sandra Chance Cox; and nephew, Robbie Gass (Brittany, Miley, Payton) . 

The family will receive friends on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM with a Memorial Service directly following at 7:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation in Goose Creek. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 869 St. James Avenue, Goose Creek, SC 29445, (843) 553-1511.