Kerry Brian Ritz, 57, of Darlington, SC went to be with Jesus on October 10th, 2022 after a long illness. Born in Bridgeton, NJ on November 1, 1964, Kerry is the son of Douglas MacArthur Ritz and the late Barbara Jean Ellis Ritz.
Kerry, if given the opportunity, would tell you that he accepted Jesus as his Savior at a Billy Graham crusade when he was 11. Discipled by beautiful Woman of God, Mary Atwell, for a year, he was them baptized at Pearl Street Church in Bridgeton, New Jersey.
Kerry graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1983. He entered the Radiology program at Bridgeton Hospital that year becoming an X-Ray tech. He continued to grow in his field. He worked for McLeod Health from 1987 until 2004 when he went to work at In-Med Diagnostics doing outpatient CTS and MRI's, until 2009.
In 2006, Kerry surrendered to full time Christian service and began to study for the ministry, earning a Bachelor's of Arts in Christian Studies in Applied Ministries with an Emphasis in Youth in 2012, and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries in 2014 from Grand Canyon University.
In 2007, Kerry was called to Black Creek Baptist Church as the youth pastor, serving there until his health forced him to step back in 2011. Kerry was ordained as a Pastor in the Southern Baptist Association in 2014. He served at Mont Clair Baptist Church as both Interim Pastor in 2014 and Pastor from 2015 to 2017.
Kerry is pre- deceased by his mother Barbara Jean Ellis Ritz, Uncle Robert "Bob" Ellis, Uncle Elmer Elton Ritz, and Uncle Franklin "Dee" Ritz, well as other beloved family members.
Kerry is survived by his wife of 24 years, Julie Austin Ritz; his daughter Sara Nicole Stevens Gonzalez (Jorge); a son he helped raise William Jacob "Jake" Stevens (Amanda ) ( "The only steps in this house are into the front and back door!"); six grandchildren, Cadence, Lupita, Sophia, Ivan, Delilah, and Trey; his father Douglas MacArthur Ritz; his bonus parents Calvin and Carolyn Austin; his sister, Nedra DeeAnna Ritz Jeffords (Todd), a bonus sister Kim Austin Conner (Mike); a special niece BreeAnna Joy Jeffords; a special nephew James Roland "Gillie" Revell, Jr (Lauren), and a great niece, Evie, as well as beloved cousins.
Services are as follow:
Saturday October 22nd, 2022 at Belk Funeral Home, 229 W Broad St, Darlington South Carolina.
Visitation 10:00 AM
Service 11:00, immediately followed by internment at Grove Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends at the home of Jake and Amanda Stevens, 211 S Ervin Street, Darlington South Carolina immediately following the burial.
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