Wynter Pitts, a Christian author, blogger and founder of For Girls Like You magazine, died suddenly at the age of 38 on July 24, 2018. Her cause of death was revealed to be a heart attack, according to fellow Christian author Renee Swope. Pitts’ death shocked and saddened the Christian community, who remembered her as a devoted wife, mother, and ministry leader.
Contents
A Passionate Advocate for Girls
Pitts was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, by her mother and grandmother. She grew up in poverty and without a father figure, but she attributed her accomplishments to the grace of God and the love of her family, who all served the Lord. She graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she studied corporate communications.
Pitts had a passion for empowering and equipping girls to follow God with their whole heart and to provide parents with the resources and support needed to raise strong Christ followers. She founded For Girls Like You magazine in 2012, a bimonthly publication that features articles, quizzes, games, and activities for girls ages 6 to 12. She also wrote several books for girls, such as God’s Girl Says Yes, You Are God’s Girl, and She Is Yours.
Pitts also had a personal connection to the entertainment industry, as her eldest daughter, Alena Pitts, starred in the movie War Room as Priscilla Shirer’s daughter in 2015. Pitts supported her daughter’s acting career and co-authored a series of books with her, called Lena in the Spotlight.
A Loving Wife and Mother
Pitts was married to Jonathan Pitts, the executive pastor at The Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, where her uncle, Dr. Tony Evans, is the senior pastor. The couple had four daughters: Alena, Kaitlyn, Camryn, and Olivia. Pitts loved her family with a deep commitment and often shared photos and videos of them on her social media accounts.
Pitts’ husband and daughter announced her death on Instagram, expressing their grief and faith in God’s sovereignty. Jonathan Pitts wrote, “Last night, Wynter was taken from us suddenly but we know that she was only taken into the hands of the God that she loves with her whole heart. Though we grieve, we are doing so with hope. And though we hurt, her life and her legacy will continue on through each one of us, especially my four daughters. Thank you for your prayers, specifically for them.”
Alena Pitts wrote, “On July 24, 2018 Jesus took my precious mommy off this earth. It happened within a couple hours and was so sudden. My heart hurts like never before. Comfort seems far. Anxiety is extremely present. It still feels like a dream that I will wake up from soon. I will remember those thirty minutes for the rest of my life. And I will remember the pain I felt as I found out.”
A Treasured Part of the Christian Community
Pitts’ death was mourned by many Christian leaders, authors, and speakers, who shared their condolences and tributes on social media. Some of them had known Pitts personally, while others had been inspired by her work and ministry.
Dr. Tony Evans, Pitts’ uncle and pastor, wrote on Instagram, “Please pray for our family. My niece Wynter Pitts unexpectedly passed away last night. A beautiful mother of four girls and a devoted wife, Wynter loved her family with a deep commitment. Her ministry to her family paved the way for her to encourage girls to follow God with their whole heart and for their parents to do the same. Wynter was bright, loyal, generous, diligent, and simply a delight. A treasured part of our family. While I will miss her terribly and am heartbroken at the sudden loss of her life here on earth, I am encouraged to know that ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.’ (2 Cor 5:8). Please keep her husband Jonathan, her four young daughters, and our entire family in your prayers.”
Priscilla Shirer, a Christian speaker and actress who played Alena Pitts’ mother in War Room, wrote on Instagram, “I’m still grappling for words to try and make sense of it all. But I know enough to say that Wynter Pitts was a rare and beautiful soul. She was a gift to anyone who knew her. She loved her family with a fierce love and she was a faithful friend. She was a woman of purpose and pursued the Lord with everything she had. She was a brilliant writer and communicator. She was the founder of For Girls Like You magazine and the author of several books. She was a leader and a visionary. She was my friend. And I will miss her terribly.”
Lysa TerKeurst, a Christian author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, wrote on Instagram, “My heart is heavy and hurting for this precious family. Wynter Pitts was a woman of God who loved her husband, Jonathan, and their four daughters fiercely. She was a faithful friend and an encourager to many. She was a gifted writer and speaker. She was a leader and a mentor. She was a sister in Christ and a daughter of the King. She is now in the arms of Jesus, where she is fully healed and fully whole. But she is also deeply missed by those who loved her here on earth.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Pitts’ death was a tragic and unexpected loss, but her legacy lives on through her family, her ministry, and her words. She left behind a wealth of wisdom and inspiration for girls and parents who want to grow closer to God and to each other. She also left behind a testimony of faith and hope that points to the eternal life that awaits those who trust in Jesus.
Pitts once wrote on her blog, “I am living beyond my wildest dreams, not because of anything I have done or accomplished, but because of everything He has done in me and through me. I am simply a girl who said yes. Yes to the One who created me. Yes to the One who knows me. Yes to the One who has a plan for me. Yes to the One who will never leave me. Yes to the One who loves me. Yes to the One who is able to do immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine. Yes to Him.”
That is the legacy of Wynter Pitts: a girl who said yes to God, and who encouraged others to do the same.
