Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Samantha lived in Pullman, Washington; Starkville, Mississippi; and most recently Apex, North Carolina, where she was a student at Apex High School. She was a dedicated member of the Apex cheer and stunt team, and also found deep connection and joy as a part of Karpos Ministry.
Sammy was a vibrant and gifted young woman whose light touched everyone who knew her. An accomplished athlete, she had a lifelong love of gymnastics and embraced every challenge with determination and grace. Outside the gym, Sammy’s creative spirit shone brightly—she was an avid reader, a talented writer, and an expressive artist who often filled notebooks with her drawings and thoughts.
She is deeply loved and will be forever missed by her parents, Melissa and Eric Mele, and her three sisters, Jordan, Taylor, and Maddie; along with extended family members, teammates, friends, and her faith community.
A celebration of Sammy’s life will be held Apex Funeral Home on Thursday, April 24th, where all who knew and loved her are invited to honor her memory, her laughter, and her bright, compassionate soul.
The family will receive visitors Thursday afternoon from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams Street, Apex. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 10:30am at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 625 Magdala Place, Apex, NC. Spring colors are encouraged with Samantha's favorite color being purple. Samantha's Mass will be livestreamed, to join, please use the 'Join Livestream' link in the services box below.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Samantha's name can be sent to Dawghouse Gymnastics, Apex Cheer and Stunt Team, or to Karpos Ministry, by using the links below, under 'Donations'.
If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Samantha, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.
