Stephen Crotts obit

Stephen Michael Crotts

April 14, 1950 — April 13, 2026

 

He was not on the list.

Stephen Michael Crotts

The Rev. Stephen Michael Crotts, 75, of Hillsborough, North Carolina, died April 13, 2026.

He was born April 14, 1950, in Burlington, North Carolina, and was raised in Graham, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn Cook Crotts, and his parents, George and Elizabeth Crotts.

Survivors include three children, Claire Crotts Alley (Grieg) of Wilmington, North Carolina; the Rev. Bryan Patrick Crotts (Amanda) of Burlington, North Carolina; and David Stephen Crotts (Kathryn) of McLean, Virginia; and nine grandchildren, CPT George Hampton Alley, William Beckett Alley, Henry Hills Alley, Carolyn Elizabeth Crotts, Joseph Patrick Crotts, Martha Ann Crotts, Charles Keppen Crotts, Thomas Cook Crotts and James Wingfield Crotts.

Crotts served in pastoral ministry for more than 50 years, ministering to congregations in Charlotte Court House, Virginia; Burlington, Wilmington and Greensboro, North Carolina; and Greenville, South Carolina. For the past 25 years, he continued ministry through the Carolina Study Center, where he worked with students and pastors, and also provided pulpit supply and led Sunday chapel at The Cedars of Chapel Hill.

He was the author of several books and numerous newspaper and magazine columns. He was educated at Graham High School, Furman University, Emory University and L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland.

He will be remembered for his Christian faith, devotion to family, love of learning, and interest in Shakespeare and American history.

A private burial will be held.

A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2026, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2250 Saddle Club Road, Burlington, North Carolina.

He wrote over twenty books in his career including:

 

The Maximum Experience (1977)

If you haven't Got A Prayer (1978)

Special Delivery Christmas (1978)

Majesty! (1982)

Ripe Old Age (1981)

Ten Commandments For Now (1987)

How To Handle 15 of Life's Toughest Problems and Challenges (1991)

The Story of Santa Claus (1992)

Character (1992)

The Beautiful Attitudes (1996)

Wearing the Wind (1999)

Long Time Coming! (2001)

Heroes of the Faith Speak (2003)

When the Wind Begins to Sing (2003)