Vanessa Whitwell will be missed

I had the privilege to work with Vanessa Whitwell for 5 years at Fellowship Church. She was a very special person and highly gifted by God. She had many roles at Fellowship Church but the one I will remember the most is being an incredible Drama Director. She let me do a lot of really cool stuff on the main stage at Fellowship and I didn't say thank you enough. Everything from acting to voicer overs was only common place. When she got her new Volvo she let me drive it that day like it was nothing. She loved life and the people that were in her life. I am only one of thousands upon thousands of people who were touched by her.

I pray today for her husband and family. I pray for the staff of Fellowship Church. I pray for the many people that will miss her incredible voice and on stage presence. Thank you God for letting me know Vanessa and for being able to work with her.

Here is what it says on Fellowship Church.com about Vanessa.

Vanessa Whitwell

Vanessa Whitwell went home to be with our Lord and Savior at 7:35pm Sunday evening due to a brain hemorrhage. Please pray with Vanessa's family and friends as we say goodbye to this child of God.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 8 from 6:00-8:00pm in the FC Worship Center. Funeral service will be held Wednesday, April 9 at 11:00am in the FC Worship Center.

Vanessa Whitwell, 34, beloved by her family and endeared to all, fell peacefully into the loving embrace of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, April 6, 2008.

Vanessa was born May 9, 1973 in Waco, Texas. She was raised in and around the HEB area and attended Trinity High School in Euless, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1991, Vanessa received a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Texas in 1996.

Vanessa’s true gift of music influenced her early career choices, but her heart for God drove her to the ministry. Utilizing her superior singing voice, she toured with Sierra, a contemporary Christian singing group in 1999. Completing that tour, she returned to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and answered a call to work at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. While on staff at Fellowship, Vanessa initially worked in the creative arts department, helping to facilitate worship with her beautiful singing voice; however, her influence expanded during her nine year tenure to a variety of areas within the church including women’s ministry, resources, conferences and events.

Vanessa approached her relationships with a sincere kindness and with a genuine heart for those in need. Known as an encourager and a consummate cheerleader, Vanessa lived with a passionate ferocity for life spreading joy and laughter along the way. She had a strong faith that dictated her choices, and sense of self that empowered all who came in contact with her.

Vanessa will be dearly missed by her loving husband, Andy Whitwell; her parents, Hugh and Lisa Hunt and Myrna Hunt; her sisters, Leslie, Loryn, and Haylee Hunt; her grandmother, Polly Hunt and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Blackwood; along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.