Kelsey Orndorff will live on in the lives she touched

Lizza Judd
Published: September 20, 2008

Kelsey Orndorff was a dynamic young lady who taught all of us, regardless of our age, the true meaning of giving of yourself and helping others in need.

She especially cared about those who were homeless, hungry and were in desperate need of love, not ever considering their faith or beliefs.

Thank you, Kelsey, for showing us that the great challenge of life is to decide what is important and disregard everything else.

Thank you, Kelsey, for teaching us that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people and doing the very best that you can, happiness will find you.

Thank you, Kelsey, for the opportunity to go on my first mission trip (TOPS — Teenagers Opposing Poverty) with you and your family, the youth group and my boys, to Washington D.C. to feed and clothe the homeless. It was a cold and very rainy day and you and the other youths stood in the rain and sang to the homeless. I will forever cherish that memory.

Thank you, Kelsey, for inspiring my youngest son, Chandler, to be excited about going on another mission trip and wanting to build houses for the homeless.

Thank you, Kelsey, for being a big sister to Alex and cheering for him and his team during their first All-Star Game against Louisa.

Thank you, Kelsey, for sharing Jordie with our family and for sharing your incredible parents with our church and community. They were both there for me when I needed them the most and now we will be there for them when they need us the most.

Thank you, Kelsey, for knowing that to love and to be loved are the greatest joys in the world.

You will live on in every life that you touched!

Lizza Judd
Family friend and member of the Culpeper United Methodist Church

Editor’s note: Kelsey Orndorff, 17, daughter of Culpeper United Methodist Church pastor Randy Orndorff, was killed in a car crash Aug. 29 on Route 3 on her way to a Christian concert in Fredericksburg.