Melinda states that she just moved to Mayfield from Charlotte, South Carolina, thus she speaks with Southern accent indicative of the Deep South. In reality, people from South or North Carolina have a unique accent that is very different from that of the Deep Southern states like Georgia or Alabama. Her accent is more of a Deep South accent, such as one a person might have if from one of the lower Southern states.
Melinda has just transferred to Mayfield right before graduation.