Keith Lockett Pruitt

Keith L. Pruitt Asheville ~ Keith Lockett Pruitt, 45, of Asheville, died Thursday, September 27, 2012. A native of Birmingham, AL, he was the son of the late Kenneth and Callie Mitchell Pruitt. Keith was also preceded in death by an infant son, Caleb, who died in 1999. Keith graduated from Kents Hill School in Maine and from UNC Chapel Hill in 1989. He taught English in Hungary for four years before completing a master's degree in English and theater at UNC Greensboro. Keith had a love for music and books. He wrote plays, composed and recorded numerous songs, and always enjoyed playing his guitar and singing. He taught at Dudley High School in Greensboro, Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, VA, and then at Veritas Christian Academy in Fletcher, NC. He was a passionate and fun English teacher who truly valued his students and invested in their lives. Keith had a wonderful smile and a kind heart. He loved nothing more than his family, especially his three beautiful children. He was a nurturer through and through, a natural-born father from day one. From changing diapers and packing lunches to cozy read-alouds and adventurous boat rides, Keith was never happier than when he was with his kids. His radiant love for God was evident to all who knew him. He served his church and friends as a matter of course: humbly, lovingly, and whole-heartedly. Keith is survived by his wife, Christine Harmon Pruitt; three children, Esther, Isaac and Jesse, as well as three sisters, Ellise Mayor of Birmingham, AL, Torri Chappell of San Anselmo, CA and Corinne Cargnoni of Austin, TX. A life celebration service will be held at 5:00 PM on Monday, October 1, 2012 at Grace Community Church in Mills River with Pastor Dave Desforge officiating. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Keith's memory to the Pruitt Family Benevolence Fund, c/o Asheville Christian Academy, 74 Riverwood Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.