In Loving Memory of The Rev. Chris Roussell
We grieve the loss of our Rector, Fr. Chris Roussell. Please read below funeral information, obituary, where to send condolences, and more.
Visitation - Monday, May 26, 5-7p - St. John’s Church
Funeral Service - Tuesday, May 27 at 10a - St. John’s Church
Parking will be limited so please plan to arrive with time to park and get to the church.
Our Day School will be closed so that teachers and colleagues of Ms. Alison and Fr. Chris may attend the service.
Nursery care will be offered for little ones up to age 6. Please bring them to the Multipurpose room by following the signs to the Nursery.
Clergy are invited to Vest in Cassock, Surplus, and White Stole. Clergy are invited to gather in our Choir Room to vest and process before the service. Please enter through the double glass doors labeled “Choir” off of Boston Avenue near the intersection of Boston and Elmwood.
The service will be live-streamed for those who are unable to attend or travel into town.
Second Service in Baton Rouge - Friday, May 30
Father Chris and Alison were raised in Louisiana, and have deep roots in communities in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
A second service will be held on Friday, May 30, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s Whitter Hall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Visitation will take place from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., followed by a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at West Lawn Cemetery in Gretna, Louisiana.
Please mail any cards or condolences to:
The Roussell Family
C/o St. John's Episcopal Church
205 Elmwood Avenue
Lynchburg, VA 24503
Obituary for The Reverend Chris Roussell
January 14, 1971 – May 24, 2025
The Reverend Chris Roussell, beloved husband, father, son, brother, priest, and friend, passed away suddenly on May 24, 2025, of a heart attack while cutting the grass at his home in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was 54 years old. Chris died on the twenty-second anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood—a sacred day that marked the beginning of his lifelong vocation and, fittingly, the day he returned home to God.
Born on January 14, 1971, Chris grew up in Marrero, Louisiana, where he attended Visitation of Our Lady School and graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in the Class of 1989. He earned a degree in English from Louisiana State University in 1993, cultivating a love of language that enriched his preaching and pastoral care.
Chris was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on May 24, 2003, and served the Diocese of Baton Rouge for three years. He also served as a chaplain at St. Joseph Hospice in Baton Rouge, ministering to patients and families with compassion and grace through the sacred passage of end-of-life care.
In the midst of his transition back to ordained ministry, Chris worked for several years alongside his father and brother at Concrete Busters of Louisiana. That chapter allowed him to reconnect with his roots, embrace the dignity of hard work, and deepen his understanding of life’s practical and spiritual intersections—insights that profoundly informed his later ministry.
In 2013, Chris was received into the Episcopal Church, where he continued his priestly ministry in Rapid City, South Dakota, serving for six years. In 2019, he accepted a call to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he faithfully served as Rector until his passing. Chris loved his work as a priest—every Eucharist, every conversation, every pastoral visit reflected his deep devotion to Christ and his calling.
He is preceded in death by his father, Francis (Tiger) Roussell. He is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Alison Roussell; and their two cherished daughters, Caroline and Meredith Landry, who affectionately called him “Mooie.” He is also survived by his mother, Betty Roussell; his brother, Reagan Roussell (Stacey Hart); his sister, Stacey Roussell; and his beloved nieces and nephews: Hunt, Lily, and Cade Roussell, and Meghan and Finn Frederick.
Chris will be remembered for his gentle spirit, steady presence, wry humor, and the deep faith that sustained his ministry. He touched countless lives through his service, his words, and his love.
A visitation will be held on Monday, May 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. A celebration of the Holy Eucharist is planned on Tuesday, May 27, at 10:00 a.m., also at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
A second service will be held on Friday, May 30, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s Whitter Hall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Visitation will take place from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., followed by a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m.
Burial will follow at West Lawn Cemetery in Gretna, Louisiana.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Michael’s Special School in New Orleans.
"Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord." – Matthew 25:21
