Melissa and Brodrick

Embracing Change and Novelty

This year, we welcomed our daughter to the family, spent time with and assisted aging parents, and adjusted to a new school for our son. It was a year full of change and learning to be flexible with the demands of life. Looking back, it taught us that we have much to appreciate, look forward to, and plan for as we ourselves age. There were good times and bad, but memories made and strengthened bonds, nonetheless. The outpouring of love and understanding from our friends and family have made these challenging times easier than we could have expected.

We’re excited to enter the 10th year of our union. Our family is thriving and achieving excellence.

Please enjoy a few memories from our photo gallery.

Fusion

What a year it has been! The annual report for EmnBee is looking good: we are adding to our family - welcoming a baby girl in October, we have improved our outlook as Brodrick started his new position as a Professor at the University of Memphis, and we will continue to work towards our strategy of success and happiness.

The most proud moments of our marriage have happened in this past year. We have hit our stride as parents and homeowners - reaping the rewards from our prudent planning and remaining flexible as life goes on. Learning to lean on each other and giving unwavering support to pursue interests keeps our partnership strong.

As we look forward to closing out our first decade as husband and wife, mother and father, we still appreciate all of the encouraging words and prayers from those closest to us. Your support is definitely acknowledged, and we cannot thank each of you enough!

Please enjoy a few memories from our photo gallery.

Completion

We are happy to report that the merger into EmnBee has successfully completed. Succession plans have begun to ensure the legacy lives on for both of us. The excitement has transitioned into eagerly awaiting for what the future holds for us.

While we celebrate our 7 years together and look back on all that was accomplished and attained, looking forward to the decades ahead of us keeps us focused on togetherness, spending quality time and constantly assessing what will make each of our future selves happy. It takes continuous conversation, regular strategy sessions, and remaining flexible and patient.

Please enjoy the memories shared below and thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Sculpting out our space.

We have felt our marriage entering a stride. Our focus shifted towards hitting key decision milestones for what the future would look like. New opportunities presented a new outlook for our lives. We are excitedly seeing the futures better than what we imagined could come to fruition.

Our team may be in new markets achieving higher goals, living in our flow state, and loving the life we’ve built. If Parenthood has taught us one lesson: life is about learning and growing everyday to the max. Enjoy the journey and remember what it taught you about yourself.

A few more memories are posted here for your enjoyment.

Production

This year brought amazing growth and excitement to our marriage and life. Two became three during our 5th year. It has been a testament to our strength, dedication, and unbelievable trust we have for one another. We have danced and sang our way through some restless nights, crying spells, and downright exhaustion.

Now that we have added Parenthood to our dynamic, we are learning about each other all over again. His loving parenting style, my fierce maternal instincts, and our new way of relating with a baby in tow has shown us that truly whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. We are a team, helping each other overcome whatever holds us back, keeping each other motivated and encouraged through the tough times, and celebrating each other through every milestone and new accomplishment.

A few more memories are posted here for your enjoyment.

Innovation

We are looking forward to 2021 and new things happening. We are preparing to welcome a new life into the world and could not be more excited to meet our new addition to the family. Baby Stigall is making his way to us!

Click here to head over to our special "baby" site.

Below are a few pictures of our Expectation!

A Return to Home

This year, as was the case for the majority of the world, we faced changes and challenges to reacclimate ourselves to a new normal. Not only were we now living under the same roof again, but new life events were happening and instant adjustments had to be made. In time, this team of two were able to come together and overcome so that a new life together could be enjoyed. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we remain flexible as we expect to evolve and grow as individuals, as a couple, and as an expanding family.

The number 4 has its own special meaning for us and Year 4 definitely brought us great and not so great surprises. Despite being away from family and friends during this time, we have done our best to maintain a closeness with all we hold dear. We celebrate our 4th anniversary with our tribe in our hearts who have continued to cheer us on and support us throughout this life's journey.

A few more memories are posted here for your enjoyment.

Augmentation

In all things, we tie decisions to our overarching EmnBee strategy. We set strategic as well as tactical goals to ensure the business of our marriage is strong and profitable for all involved. We remain flexible as we expect to evolve and grow as individuals and as a couple.

Year 3 brought on its own set of challenges and hurdles we continue to meet each and every one head on. Brodrick was given the opportunity of a lifetime to conduct his studies abroad. As a result, he took his talents to Melbourne, Australia in June 2019. While the distance and time between us grew longer, our love and dedication grew accordingly. We celebrate our 3rd anniversary over 9000 miles from where we started.

A few more memories are posted here for your enjoyment.

A Turn in the Plot

We got down to business. While he finished up his Masters in Computer Science at Georgia Tech and she began her MBA at Illinois, Brodrick decided to pursue a PhD and was accepted into the Human Centered Computing Ph.D program at Clemson University beginning Fall 2018. We were faced with a life changing decision. Clemson is in South Carolina, and Brodrick will have to leave.

Our story has taken a drastic change as we transition into a distance relationship. One of us remains in Memphis to "hold down the fort" while the other ventures off to chase greatness. Distance makes the heart ache, just as much as it makes it grow fonder. We see each other every chance we get and we still make the most of our time together.

A few more memories are posted here for your enjoyment.

Our Story Continues

Since The Merger in 2016, the past 365 days have been simply amazing. As our two lives have integrated into one, we have learned many, many lessons and celebrated many, many triumphs--together. Looking back on the past year, we are filled with pride and excitement for the next chapters in our lives.

We continue to look to each of you for your prayers, counsel, friendship, and as an example. We cannot thank each of you enough for what you have done for us but know that you mean a great deal to our family.

A few memories are posted here for your enjoyment.

A Union to Remember

Family and friends came from near and far to celebrate our union. The Estate served as the perfect backdrop for the ceremony and reception. Words cannot describe the fun and excitement that was our wedding night.

We appreciate all the love and support and gifts you all gave us to start our lives together.

Memories of the wedding are captured here for your enjoyment.

The full wedding album is available Here

Our Story

Our story begins on the most random of nights. We were both bored and decided to attend this particular Urban League Young Professionals' outing. It was December 14th, 2013 and while we had been introduced a few times before, introductions were once again in order. Not knowing what lay ahead of us, our acquaintance blossomed into a friendship which blossomed into an interesting courtship with a myriad of ups, downs, and pitfalls. But, we made it out alive, somehow.

Two years later, our journey led us to a simple question and the answer to that question was "I will." As we plan our lives and future together, we want to extend a special word of gratitude to everyone in our lives: parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. We would not be where we are without your encouragement and influence on our lives. As we continue on our journey, building a life together, we will continue looking to you for support, love, and prayers.