Reverend Stephen Michael Crotts, 75, of Hillsborough, North Carolina, died April 13, 2026. He was born April 14, 1950, in Burlington, North Carolina, and was raised in Graham, North Carolina.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn Cook Crotts, and his parents, George and Elizabeth Crotts. Survivors include three children, Claire Crotts Alley (Grieg) of Wilmington, North Carolina; the Rev. Bryan Patrick Crotts (Amanda) of Burlington, North Carolina; and David Stephen Crotts (Kathryn) of McLean, Virginia; and nine grandchildren, CPT George Hampton Alley, William Beckett Alley, Henry Hills Alley, Carolyn Elizabeth Crotts, Joseph Patrick Crotts, Martha Ann Crotts, Charles Keppen Crotts, Thomas Cook Crotts, and James Wingfield Crotts.
Crotts served in pastoral ministry for more than 50 years, ministering to congregations in Charlotte Court House, Virginia; Burlington, Wilmington, and Greensboro, North Carolina; and Greenville, South Carolina. For the past 25 years, he continued ministry through the Carolina Study Center, where he worked with students and pastors, and also provided pulpit supply and led Sunday chapel at The Cedars of Chapel Hill.
He was the author of several books and numerous newspaper and magazine columns. He was educated at Graham High School, Furman University, Emory University and L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland.
He will be remembered for his Christian faith, devotion to family, love of learning, and interest in Shakespeare and American history.
A private burial will be held. A funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2250 Saddle Club Road, Burlington, North Carolina.
Memorials may be made to the Carolina Study Center, PO Box 135, Alamance, NC 27201-0135, or online at carolinastudycenter.com/donate.
