I am so sorry to hear of your loss Alex! I've been online reading John Michael's posts. What a wonderful servant of the Lord! God works in mysterious ways and I am confident there was a profound purpose in this young man's life and death. Be it God using him in heaven, through his legacy here, or both. Praying for you and all those that know and love John Michael! May God comfort you and bring you peace. In Christ,

Expressing our deepest condolences.
May God the Hearer of Prayer bring you peace and comfort. Isaiah 51:12

My condolences to all in the Ritchey family.  I know that John-Michael will be dearly missed.  May the GOD of all Comfort be with you all in your time of grief (2 Cor. 1-3-5).

I am Robert H. Griffith. I am the Paternal Grandfather of Alexandra Griffith Ritchey. I am sad to say that I did not have the pleasure of knowing this fine young man. Me and my Family did not learn of their wedding at that time. It seems that John Michael and I would have had so much in common, ie: Love of the Lord, Scriptures, Spitituality, and Political events. On September 19th I was celebrating my 83rd Birthday when a Friend told me of this tragic event. Oh how I pray for those who suffer from this loss, especially my Granddaughter Alex, and The Ritchey Family.
Kindly accept these prayers on behalf of my Son Glenn Griffith's family His Mother Geraldine, sister Pamela Mary, Niece Jennifer, nephews Robert, David, and Tripp. 
Lord hear out prayers.
Robert H. Griffith
Los Angeles, CA

I will miss your goofiness! It's been a while since I last saw you, but I know you were just the same as when I worked/subbed at KMHS 7 years ago! Wow! 23 years and look at what you've done! I am so proud of you John-Michael. I always thought it was neat how you had the same name as my cousin :) Also, I am reminded of the time I dared you to eat a grape that had been on the floor in the classroom for who knows how long ..and you did it!  You were a funny, loving & amazing man of God! It was an honor to have known you! 

Love, Mrs. Liggity (what you nicknamed me)

I don't know Mr. Richey or the families.  My sister-in-law works at NCCS and my nephew attends NCCS.  Your loss has profoundly affected me as well as the NCCS community and Kennesaw/Acworth.  I'm so sorry for your loss.
I pulled up his obituary and the wonderful photos during his Service today and prayed over you all.  May you feel the prayers and love from the Region.
May God's love and healing follow you in the days to come.
Carolyn Geter Bonner

May you feel God's loving, healing embrace in the coming days.

My thoughts and prayers are with the wife & entire family. May God hold you close during this time & always. I was out in the Cohuttas camping on that Saturday. So, so sorry for such a tragic happening.  He sounds to have been a very well known, respectable person... May God give you strength during this time.

David and Sharon, Feel my love and support for you as you go through these difficult and sorrowful times. Love you both. May God be with you holding you in the palm of his hand.
Liz Somerville Todd

Sharon and David, 
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of great sorrow and loss. We pray that God will give you strength and healing.
Glyn and Debra Lewis

Our hearts are with you all.  We are praying for the Lord's loving arms to be tightly wrapped around you.  John-Michael touched so many lives in his years on this earth.  His reward is great in Heaven.  "Well done, my good and faithful servant..."  God bless you all.

With love,

John-Michael was a wonderful young man with an engaging smile and personality. I was introduced to him by his brother, Scott, at Muss & Turners restaurant. I adored both of these young men.
John Michael was so excited about his teaching job when he told me about it. And I was so excited for him - he was so enthused about the job.
My heart goes out to you - his family, wife and friends.
Diane Adams, Smyrna, GA

My heart is breaking. I am so sorry to hear about John Michael. Seeing his big smile again took me back to when he was just a little boy running the halls of Lewis trying to keep up with his older sister and brother. He always had that big grin on his face. I will continue to keep that smile and all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

David,

I have not met John but knowing you I can fathom what a person he was - gentle, loving and the impact he had on others at such a young age. My deepest condolences to you & Sharon and entire family. Stay strong !!!

David, Sharon and Alex, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of loss. Dan and Marge La Benne

My heart cries to the Lord on your behalf David, Sharon, Alex and the families.  But as you grieve find comfort in knowing that your son who touched so many lives in so many ways, particularly for the cause of Christ, his faith is now sight and he is waiting for you all.  Your mourning and weeping will last for only a night and then... soon you will be reunited with him in the presence of our Lord.  Find comfort and joy in the days ahead in all the wonderful tributes and stories that people will share with you. You raised a wonderful son and Christian young man.  God's grace was evident in his life.  May God bless and keep each of you and keep you safe and comforted in the shadow of His wings. 
Psalm 91:4, He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

We were SO blessed to have John-Michael as a teacher at North Cobb Christian! His impact on my son, Justin, could never be measured...he had him for a class last year and was also blessed to play on the varsity boys soccer team -- and their #1 fan was Mr. Ritchey! Oh, how that school will miss him...but what a legacy he leaves..always pointing them to Jesus in word and deed...I pray for His comfort to be around you all as you go through the days and weeks ahead...our hope is that we WILL see him again! Doing cartwheels in front of the King, I'm sure!  In Christ's Love, an NCCS parent

We are keeping all of your family in our prayers.

Dear Alex, David and Sharon - I am heart broken for you.  I was so blessed to have watched JM grow up and become the Godly Man he was.  He touched so many lives in such a short time, Heaven will be more populated because of his influence.  He was so loved.

Sharon and David, my dear friends, there is nothing I can say that hasn't been said. I've been reading what everyone has said about John-Michael, all the people he touched and how happy he made them by just talking to them. What an amazing young man. I remember him as a mischievous little guy who always made us laugh, how he would go limp when David would try to pick him up when he didn't want to leave. The time he was the only one in the house who didn't get food poisoning because he drank a bottle of peroxide the day before. I remember him as curious and fearless and always with a smile on his face. One of the biggest regrets in my life now is that I missed out on knowing him as an adult. I love you all. I am a better person for knowing your family.

David and Sharon,
Rick and I are so very sorry for the loss of your son. We were heartbroken when we heard the news from Zach and Katie Sunday. It felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. You are in our thoughts and we pray God will provide comfort and peace for your family.

David and Sharon I am so very sorry for your loss. God Bless John-Michael's memories and his family..

Dear family, We have spent many wonderful days with John-Michael when he toured with Liberty Universities' "Seventy One" as did our daughter, Joy Lippard Hanna.  We were regular groupies!  We loved when the band would stay at our house on different occasions.  John-Michael is one of those young men that you instantly love because of his wisdom in the Lord and his contagious compassion and laughter for people and life.  He will be greatly missed.  In human effort their is no comfort for this type of loss but we have been praying continuously for Jehovah Shalom (the God of peace) to hold you all in His loving arms and to embrace you and give you His comfort and peace.  Heaven is rejoicing that John-Michael is there amongst the great saints of God and truly JM is a saint of his generation.  In the precious name of Jesus we send our condolences. Tommy and Esta Lippard

My son Caleb spoked so highly of you. I remember when we first met you during open house. You had a beautiful smile. I saw your spirit. How you love the Lord. You will be missed. To his family you are in the McHerrin prayers.

Dear David and family, I am at a loss for words.  The presence of deep pain can temporarily block what we know to be true in God's Word.  My prayer is that our Lord and Savior penetrate your pain with a love that only He can give.  He understands your pain as He lost His Son as well.  I did not know John-Michael but from what I am reading, his life is a great testament to his Heavenly Father and his earthly father and family's love that was poured into his life.

David, Sharon and Family; Mike and I were very saddened to hear the news about John Michael.  Your family has always held a special place in our hearts.  From everything we have read about John Michael, he touched so many lives and was loved by so many.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Dear Sharon and family,
 Your loss of dearest John Michael is a loss to the whole community and Marcia and I grieve with you. We have walked through this valley of sadness twice already in our lives and we know what a difficult ordeal  you are suffering through at this time. But you now have another of God's angels looking out for you every moment of every day and Michael will never leave you. We pray for you and will include you in our memories as we move forward with whatever God's plan may  be for our lives. Bob and Marcia Burns

"I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes our to the family of this remarkable young man"

John-Michael is home, but what a hole he's left here. My son Adam was in his Bible class last year, and I will never forget the impact that he made. Adam would go into school 30 minutes early just to have a chance to talk with him. I have never seen such an outpouring of love for anyone as I have for this incredible man of God. He lived more life than most people three times his age. My thoughts and prayers are with you all; may God hold you tightly.

May God's peace and comfort be your strength in this time. Lovingly in Christ Jesus Stephanie & Allen and Adriene Singleton

David, Sharon, and family; I cannot express how disheartened I was when I heard the news about John-Michael. What a fine young man, a man of God's Word! Though I cannot wrap my head and heart around his passing, I have to have faith that God's eternal plan for JM is a GOOD one. I cannot be with you this week because of previous family commitments. I hope to see you soon and bring to you what God has laid on my heart. Please, know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

My 15 year old granddaughter had Mr. Ritchey her Freshman year and again this year.  Our granddaughter is at our home often after school and the name Mr. Ritchey was a common name in her conversations day after day like he was a member of our family.  She was so taken with his enthusiastic personality and his love for our Savior Jesus Christ.  He had also been a speaker at her church, Summit Baptist, for youth retreats.  Our entire family grieves for John Michael's wife, parents, siblings, teachers, students and all who knew him.  He touched so many lives in his short 23 years.   A brief few words with him and his beautiful smile, he captured your heart and you knew why everyone loved him so much.
Hugh and Linda Ward and Hannah Hicks

So very sorry for your loss. One cannot think of John Michael without also thinking of our Savior, who he represented so well. He was truly a positive influence for Christ.
The Browning Family

OBITUARY

John-Michael Ritchey

April 9, 1992 – September 19, 2015

Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home and Memorial Park

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services