Melissa Jean Cheliras, 33 of Richmond, VA, passed away on Friday, February 10 after a courageous four month battle with esophageal cancer. She was born in Charleston, SC, but moved to Virginia at an early age, growing up in Virginia Beach. She was a graduate of Salem High School, Virginia Tech and Gordon Conwell Seminary of Boston. Following her graduation from Virginia Tech she devoted her life to campus ministry, serving at the University of Mass—Lowell, Tufts University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Richmond. She is survived by her parents, Richard and Cathy Cheliras of Chesapeake; sister, Christine Cheliras of Brooklyn, NY; grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. The family will receive friends at Bethel Baptist Church, 1832 Elbow Road, Chesapeake on Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 2 to 4 pm. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Bethel Baptist Church on Monday at 3:30 pm with burial to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family ask memorial gifts be made to the Melissa Cheliras Memorial Fund c/o Blacksburg Baptist Church, 550 North Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Please visit her book of memories at www.grahamfuneralhome.com to leave a note to the family.