Funeral for Kennesaw Teacher Killed in Accident is Thursday

A Kennesaw school community will gather Thursday morning to mourn the loss of a teacher who died in a tragic hiking accident over the weekend.

John-Michael Ritchey, a 23-year-old English teacher at North Cobb Christian School, was killed by a fall in Fannin County on Saturday, according to Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home. Ritchey will be laid to rest Thursday at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs following services at NorthStar Church at 11 a.m. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that high school students from North Cobb Christian School can take buses to attend the funeral.

Ritchey was an alumnus of the school and returned to his alma mater to help the next generation follow God while excelling in the classroom. He graduated from Liberty University and got married a little over a year ago.

“We were SO blessed to have John-Michael as a teacher at North Cobb Christian!” wrote a parent on Ritchey’s memorial wall. “Oh, how that school will miss him...but what a legacy he leaves..always pointing them to Jesus in word and deed.”

Those who desire, in lieu of flowers, may make contributions to the Hilan Project, c/o City Church Eastside, 112 Krog Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30307.