Michelle Burnette Droege

Michelle was born in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida on May 6, 1981. She attended Riverwood High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia where she played soccer, cheered for the football team, was a member of the National Honor Society and was Salutatorian of her senior class.

Michelle attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree of Psychology. She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. She then completed her Masters of Anesthesiology at Emory University.

During her education, she traveled to Europe to complete a semester in Spain. This experience ignited her passion to serve in several different countries on mission trips throughout her life, including India, Brazil, Africa and Guatemala.

She began her career as an Anesthesia Physicians Assistant (AA) at Kennestone Hospital, in Marietta, Georgia. She went on to work for Georgia Anesthesiologists, P.C. of Marietta, Georgia until 2019, when she chose to stay at home with her children full time.

Michelle met the love of her life, Ryan Droege, at a Rick Bonfim Ministry Bible Study in 2010. Together they traveled to Israel and Turkey with this Bible Study group.

Michelle and Ryan were married at Mt. Bethel Church, in Marietta, Georgia, on June 1, 2013. They settled and started a family in Kennesaw, Georgia. Michelle gave birth to their first daughter, Abigail, in May of 2014. Elizabeth came along in November of 2015, followed by Mary Katherine in December of 2017, and Emma Grace in September of 2019. These four girls are the sweetest, most exceptional children anyone could hope for. All four children attend Mt. Paran Christian School in Kennesaw. The family are members of Riverstone Church in Kennesaw.

Michelle was a kind-hearted woman who loved the outdoors and saw nature as one of God’s greatest gifts to us all. Michelle was most at peace being by water, either at the beach or sitting by a lake. Her favorite memory of her childhood was of her time spent on a family friend’s farm riding horses, swimming in the pool and riding go carts.

Michelle was a devoted Christian woman who spent much time reading her Bible and being with God. She enjoyed practicing new hobbies like quilting, knitting, and needlepoint. She was inquisitive, creative and loved doing all kinds of crafts with her children. She liked to jog, ride her bike and had recently taken up tennis and golf. She was active in her community, church, the childrens’ school and volunteered in many different areas.

Michelle is survived by her husband, Ryan, and her four young daughters, Abigail, Elizabeth, Mary Katherine and Emma Grace. She is also survived by her parents, Denise and Robert Burnette, Sandy Springs, GA.; brothers, Robert Burnette, Jr., Denver, CO.; Stephen (Bernadette) Burnette, Virginia Beach, VA.; sisters, Allison (Kody) Gann, Atlanta, GA.; Katherine Burnette, Athens, GA.; nephew, Ambrose Burnette.

It was Michelle’s wish to have her funeral in the church where she was married.

Visitation will be held at Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, GA on June 6th, from 5:00-7:00 pm.

Celebration of Life Service will be held at Mt. Bethel Church in Marietta, GA on June 7th at 1:30 pm in the main sanctuary. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church. Children are welcome to attend this worship service.

Interment services will be private and will be held on June 8th.

The family would like to ask that all the ladies who are coming to the service wear a pearl of any type, as a memory for the girls' Mommy.