More than 300 family members, friends, and colleagues came together at Pamlico Community College’s Delamar Center Thursday to remember Interim President Michelle Willis Krauss’s loving spirit, dedication to her family, and commitment to bringing out the best in students.

The initial mood of the event was sad and somber, but it quickly grew joyous and uplifting as speakers shared happy stories and funny memories of a woman whom everyone agreed had lived her life well.

“I am confident that Michelle would truly want this service to be a gathering of love,” the Rev. Scott Fitzgerald, pastor of Bayboro Baptist Church, told the crowd from a podium on the Delamar Center stage. “She was a bundle of love.”

About 60 current and former college leaders and employees were seated in front of the stage on one side of the aisle, while Krauss’s family members were seated on the opposite side. Members of both groups wore red, which was one of Krauss’s favorite colors.

The large crowd of attendees sat in the bleachers behind her “kin” family and her “work” family. An urn containing her ashes was placed on a platform in front of the podium, and about 20 large plants and colorful flower arrangements adorned both the stage and the floor below.

Krauss, who had served in several roles at the college since 2005, died Nov. 7 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville following a medical emergency that occurred Nov. 5 at her home. She was 66.

Krauss’s unexpected passing jolted Pamlico County, where many remembered her as a dedicated educator who spent her career working with young people.

From 1990 to 2005, she was a beloved teacher and director of PEACE Preschool in Oriental, interacting with hundreds of children and their families.

After that, Krauss became a Criminal Justice Technology instructor at PCC. She would go on to become an important leader at Pamlico, serving as its director of off-campus programs, then its vice president of instruction, and finally as its interim president.

In the days since her passing, dozens of former students and colleagues flooded the college’s social media accounts with memories of Krauss.

Former student Sarah Henries wrote, “Mrs. Michelle impacted so many lives. She truly took the time to get to know each student and helped them in any way she possibly could. She pushed you to be your best and accomplish your goals. Her kindness was unmatched above all else. She will be deeply missed, and I am so grateful to have known her.”

Former colleague Greg Skelly posted: “What a loss! Michelle had so much talent, intelligence, insight and commitment to the college, its students and the community as a whole.”

Appropriately, Thursday’s memorial service for Krauss took place at the college. Colleagues spent the day before the event deep-cleaning the facility so it would shine.

Following Fitzgerald’s remarks, former brother-in-law James Banks shared memories of Krauss. He told stories about playing cards and board games with Krauss and her first husband. The families took vacations to the mountains and the beach together and looked after each other’s children as if they were their own.

Banks said he and Krauss decided to rededicate themselves to their Christian faith on the same day, agreeing to be saved at the same service.

Even after her first marriage ended, Krauss did not become embittered, Banks said. She stayed in contact with the extended Willis family and worked to improve life for herself and her son, Trey.

“She persevered in her professional life and her personal life,” he said. “I would say that her faith, hard work, and dedication kept Michelle moving forward.”

Michelle and her new husband, Jim, even joined her former in-laws at gatherings, Banks said.

After Banks spoke, Fitzgerald returned to the podium, telling the crowd he met Krauss while she worked at PEACE Preschool. Krauss was integral in growing the program from a two-day to a five-day-per-week operation, the pastor said, adding she and her “dream team” of colleagues created an environment of love and support that children looked forward to joining, he said.

“It was a magical place,” Fitzgerald said.

Following her PEACE Preschool days, it was off to the local community college.

“The community college became her new family,” Fitzgerald said, adding how proud Krauss was of her colleagues’ accomplishments.

While at PCC, Krauss became well known for her work with the college’s dual enrollment program, which enabled high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits by taking and passing courses offered through Pamlico. The program even allowed Krauss to reconnect with many of the same young people who had attended PEACE Preschool.

“She got them again!” Fitzgerald said. “She always connected. She always knew them.”

He said the program also allowed Krauss to do what she did best: motivate and inspire young people, whether through a quiet voice of encouragement or a metaphorical kick in the rear end.

Fitzgerald said Krauss also valued all of her colleagues at the college, saying, “She treated everybody as if they were the most important people.”

The pastor then turned the crowd’s attention to the backstory of The Beatles’ song “Let It Be,” which he said Paul McCartney had written after struggling with personal and professional issues. The story goes that the songwriter was visited by his late mother, who advised her son to stop worrying and let it be.

Fitzgerald suggested the audience do the same with their grief and instead carry with them memories of Krauss’s positive attitude, bright smile, and love for her students, family, and community.

 “Michelle was an example of a person who loved what she did, but more importantly, she loved who she did it for,” he said. “Let’s all love like Michelle loved.”

Link to Michelle Willis Krauss’s obituary: https://www.danielssadlerfunerals.com/obituary/michelle-krauss