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Melissa was born in Nashville, Tennessee, the daughter of Anne and Steven Harrison. A brother followed five years later. DuPont transferred the family to Virginia and then to Delaware. Melissa met her husband-to-be, the late Dr. Jeffrey Fischer, in high school as they worked on the newspaper and marching band. After college graduation, they married and moved to Maryland. Melissa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Business Communications from Towson State University. 

 

Melissa began her career with Alex Brown Brokerage before changing to banking. Her specialty became commercial relationships, helping businesses navigate banking’s complexities. Melissa retired as a Vice President of Commercial Lending but continues to volunteer as chairman of Maryland business real estate loans for a non-profit lender.

Memberships 

  • American Patrons of St. George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter

  • Associated Daughters of Early American Witches (President, 2018-2020)

  • Baronial Order of Magna Charta

  • Colonial Dames of America

  • Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars (Maryland Chaplain, 2024-2026)

  • Crown and Sceptre

  • Delmarva First Families (Re-organizing Treasurer, 2020-2025)

  • Descendants of Brian Boru

  • Descendants of Cape Cod and the Islands (Financial Review Chairman, 2018-2021)

  • Descendants of Colonial Regulators ( President, 2025-2027)

  • Descendants of Early American Governors (Founding Historian, 2023-2025)

  • Descendants of Early Postmasters 1607-1900 (Deputy President, 2023-2025)

  • Descendants of Fossors (President, 2019-2023)

  • Descendants of Founders of Places of Worship in America (Treasurer, 2025-2027)

  • Descendants of Miners 1607-1907

  • Descendants of Sheriffs and Constables of Colonial and Antebellum America (Counselor, 2020-2022)

  • Dutch Colonial Society (Recording Secretary, 2012-2014)

  • Elder William Brewster Society

  • First Families of Tennessee

  • First Settlers of the Shenandoah Valley

  • Founders Fellowship (Treasurer, 2021-2029)

  • General Society of Mayflower Descendants (DC Finance Committee, 2010-2012)

  • Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607-1783 (Financial Review Chairman, 2009)

  • Hereditary Order Descendants Loyalists & Patriots American Revolution (Deputy Governor, 2021-2023)

  • Hereditary Order of the Families of Presidents and First Ladies of America (Recording Secretary, 2025-2027)

  • Hereditary Order of the Red Dragon (1st Vice President, 2021-2024)

  • Hereditary Society of Teachers (Financial Review Chairman, 2013-2016)

  • Jamestowne Society (First Maryland Company Treasurer, 2024-2026)

  • Legion of Vikings and Valkyries (Vice President, 2021-2027)

  • National Gavel Society (Treasurer, 2025-2028)

  • National Guild of Saint Margaret of Scotland (2nd Vice President, 2025-2027)

  • National Huguenot Society (DC Chaplain, 2009-2015)

  • National Society Antebellum Planters

  • National Society Children of the American Revolution (Delaware Vice President, 1980-1982)

  • National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century (Appointed National Officer, 2019-2021)

  • National Society Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century

  • National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars (Maryland Parliamentarian, 2009-2013)

  • National Society Daughters of the American Colonists

  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (National Chairman of Buildings and Grounds, 2004-2007)

  • National Society Descendants of Early Quakers (1st Vice President, 2021-2023)

  • National Society of New England Women (National Chairman, 2012-2023)

  • National Society of Saints and Sinners (President, 2021-2026)

  • National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (Maryland Board Manager, 2022-2028)

  • National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor (National Chairman, 2021-2025)

  • National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims

  • National Society Southern Dames of America (President, 2022-2024)

  • National Society United States Daughters of 1812 (National Chairman, 2003-2006 and 2024-2027)

  • National Society Women Descendants Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (2nd Vice President, 2019-2022)

  • Order of Alba (Vice President, 2025-2027)

  • Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry (2nd Vice President, 2024-2028)

  • Order of Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chirurgiens (President, 2023-2024)

  • Order of Descendants of Pirates and Privateers

  • Order of Descendants of the Justiciars (2nd Vice President, 2020-2022)

  • Order of First Families of Connecticut 1633-1662

  • Order of Monarchs of Rheims

  • Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America

  • Order of the Descendants of El Cid (Treasurer, 2025-2028)

  • Order of the First Families of Maine (2nd Vice President, 2021-2023)

  • Order of the First Families of New Hampshire 1622-1680 (Newsletter Editor, 2012-2014)

  • Order of the House of Wessex (Bylaws Committee, 2025-2026)

  • Order of the Kings and Queens in the Holy Lands (Recording Secretary, 2020-2022)

  • Order of the Merovingian Dynasty

  • Order of the Norman Conquest (Counselor, 2022-2028)

  • Order of the Star and Sail

  • Order of the Steel Magnolias

  • Order of Three Crusades 1096-1192 (Auditor General, 2009-2010)

  • Plantagenet Society

  • Point Lookout Prisoner of War Organization

  • Presidential Families of America (2nd Vice President, 2022-2025)

  • Scions of Freedom Signers (Founding Vice President, 2024-2028)

  • Society of Descendants of Lady Godiva (Founding Newsletter Co-Editor, 2013-2016)

  • Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy (Counselor, 2006-2009)

  • Society of the First Families of New York

  • Sons and Daughters of the Colonial and Antebellum Bench and Bar 1565-1861

  • Sons and Daughters of Virginia Founding Fathers

  • The Commonwealth Assembly (Founding President, 2022-present)

  • The Griswold Family Association

  • The IX (Founding Recording Secretary, 2019-present)

  • United Daughters of the Confederacy (Division Vice President, 2014-2016)

  • Winthrop Society (Recording Secretary, 2024-2026)

Other 

  • Chairman of Maryland loan committee for Business Finance Group, a metro D.C. non-profit providing small business real estate loans.

  • Smeal College of Business at Penn State, Advisor to sophomores on majors.

  • Penn State “Fostering Lions” sponsor, helping with living expenses for students formerly in foster care.

Melissa and her brother joined C.A.R. when their mother joined DAR, starting her love of genealogy. While working in Washington, she walked to the DAR library during lunch, finding her first gateway and a growing list of ancestors. This led to joining more societies and then leadership positions. She has served as the National Presiding Officer of five Hereditary groups and currently serves as President of two as well as treasurer of the National Gavel Society and Founders Fellowship.

Melissa enjoys traveling: she cruised South Africa, France, Alaska, and Antarctica in 2025 then French Polynesia in January 2026. English Channel, Nile River, and Mediterranean cruises and a Kenya safari are booked for future adventures.

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