Meet Melissa

Melissa Stuckey’s life has been shaped by service, hard work, and the belief that real leadership requires lived experience and problem solving.

An ‘Army-Brat’ born in Bitburg, Germany, Melissa is the oldest daughter of a Vietnam Veteran who served as a Non-Commissioned Officer working in power generation. After relocating to Fort Benning, her family eventually settled in Coweta County, where her father built a small business in the power generation field. Melissa’s mother worked for the J.C. Penny Catalog distribution center before joining her husband’s business as office manager. 

Growing up in a military family, and a Christian home, Melissa was raised with conservative values, responsibility, and resilience. After graduating with honors from East Coweta High School, where she participated in cheerleading, debate, and served as editor of the school newspaper, Melissa worked her way through college, balancing three jobs while earning her degree. She ultimately graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

Joining the family business in 2001, Melissa worked with her father in transforming Southern Power System Services into a successful government contracting operation. She learned how to navigate complex procurement systems, secure contracts, and build lasting partnerships in a male-dominated, engineering-focused field. Melissa earned respect by mastering the details, leading teams, and finding solutions where no roadmap existed.

Following the passing of her father in 2023 after years of health complications linked to Agent Orange exposure, her mother took over running the family business. Melissa stepped up to lead contracting and workload management, continuing her father’s legacy of service through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Melissa’s experiences caring for her father and witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by veterans and their families (particularly those affected by Agent Orange) inspired her commitment to advocacy. Today, she supports initiatives focused on veterans, service families, and increased awareness and research for generational health impacts. She has also volunteered across the community with service organizations including March of Dimes, Healing 4 Heroes, and the Keith Brooking Children’s Foundation.

Melissa and her husband John, a lifelong Coweta County resident, have a teenage son and the family is active with First Baptist Church of Newnan. Together, they have launched additional small business ventures, including a family farm wedding venue and JM Stuckey’s Sweet Southern Sauce – a locally developed, FDA-approved product line.

Melissa Stuckey’s life has been shaped by service, hard work, and the belief that real leadership requires lived experience and problem solving.

An ‘Army-Brat’ born in Bitburg, Germany, Melissa is the oldest daughter of a Vietnam Veteran who served as a Non-Commissioned Officer working in power generation. After relocating to Fort Benning, her family eventually settled in Coweta County, where her father built a small business in the power generation field. Melissa’s mother worked for the J.C. Penny Catalog distribution center before joining her husband’s business as office manager. 

Growing up in a military family, and a Christian home, Melissa was raised with conservative values, responsibility, and resilience. After graduating with honors from East Coweta High School, where she participated in cheerleading, debate, and served as editor of the school newspaper, Melissa worked her way through college, balancing three jobs while earning her degree. She ultimately graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

Joining the family business in 2001, Melissa worked with her father in transforming Southern Power System Services into a successful government contracting operation. She learned how to navigate complex procurement systems, secure contracts, and build lasting partnerships in a male-dominated, engineering-focused field. Melissa earned respect by mastering the details, leading teams, and finding solutions where no roadmap existed.

Following the passing of her father in 2023 after years of health complications linked to Agent Orange exposure, her mother took over running the family business. Melissa stepped up to lead contracting and workload management, continuing her father’s legacy of service through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Melissa’s experiences caring for her father and witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by veterans and their families (particularly those affected by Agent Orange) inspired her commitment to advocacy. Today, she supports initiatives focused on veterans, service families, and increased awareness and research for generational health impacts. She has also volunteered across the community with service organizations including March of Dimes, Healing 4 Heroes, and the Keith Brooking Children’s Foundation.

Melissa and her husband John, a lifelong Coweta County resident, have a teenage son and the family is active with First Baptist Church of Newnan. Together, they have launched additional small business ventures, including a family farm wedding venue and JM Stuckey’s Sweet Southern Sauce – a locally developed, FDA-approved product line.