Rev. Michelle DeRossett, of Liberty, South Carolina, passed away February 25, 2018. She was 31 years old.
DeRossett served as assistant pastor at Hilltop Wesleyan Church in Liberty. Her primary focus as assistant pastor included children’s ministry.
A Greentown, Indiana, native, DeRossett was an alumni of Southern Wesleyan University in Central, S.C. In addition to her parents, Michelle is also survived by her husband, Kevin DeRossett and four children, Olivia Reece, Erilyn Pyke, Noelle Trace, and Aubrey Elise. Other survivors include two sisters and her grandparents.
A visitation will be held Thursday, March 1, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens, S.C. A memorial service will be held Friday, March 2, at 1:00 p.m. at Southern Wesleyan University in the Newton Hobson Auditorium.
Here is what Rev. Buddy Rampey, district superintendent for South Carolina District, had to say about Rev. DeRossett:
Our district extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Rev. Michelle DeRossett who went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 25. Michelle experienced sudden heart failure symptoms on the evening of Monday, February 12 and by Friday, February 23, she was undergoing heart transplant surgery. Then on Sunday, she experienced a severe stroke that resulted in her unexpected death.
We also extend our sympathy to the Hilltop Wesleyan Church where Michelle was the assistant pastor, working primarily in the area of children’s ministry. In addition, she was integrally involved in our district children’s ministry and Kids Camp. Michelle was loved by our district family and her passing leaves a hole in our district ministry as well as in our hearts.
I first became acquainted with Michelle and Kevin when they invited me to their apartment during their time at Southern Wesleyan University. I loved hearing their vision for their ministry and providing support for Michelle’s calling. My times with her were always pleasant, positive and engaging. She was passionate about her relationship with Jesus Christ and about sharing Him with others. This continued to the very end of her life, when her faith just seemed to overflow onto those who were in her presence. While Michelle was nurtured in another district, it was an honor for our district to be the ordaining entity in The Wesleyan Church in 2014. I recall this being a truly special moment for her, but it was equally special for us as well. In reality, her being ordained was just the formal approval of the ministry she had been doing all of her life.
As Joan and I visited with the family last evening, the enormity of the challenges of a family with four young children who have lost their consummate mother, was apparent. But also apparent was the strength and determination of their father, Kevin, to carry on as Michelle would have wanted. It is an amazing and providential blessing that Michelle’s parents made the decision to move to Six Mile within the last few months. Their enduring gifts of love and nurturing are clearly evident.
Here is a link to the complete obituary.
Thank you for your prayers and support of this family during this time, and I strongly encourage all of us to continue to seek ways of providing encouragement and support for them in the days to come.
