Pastor Mike Stone Daughter Sarah Dies at 19 After 12 Weeks in Hospice Care

Twelve weeks ago, doctors did not expect Sarah Stone to last more than a few days. Her father wrote it down himself, two days before she died: neither the family nor the medical professionals had any idea she would last that long. On Tuesday 3 November, after those twelve weeks at home in hospice care, the 19-year-old daughter of Georgia pastor Mike Stone died.

Sarah Ellington Stone, the 19-year-old daughter of Georgia Baptist pastor Mike Stone and his wife, Andrea, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, following a lengthy illness and 12 weeks in hospice care, Baptist Press reports. The Christian Post reports that Stone, who leads Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, announced on social media that the second youngest of his four children had died that day.

“With heavy hearts upheld by our Christian faith, we want to share that our precious Sarah has gone to be with the Lord,” the family said, as quoted by Baptist Press. “Though we grieve, our hope in Jesus gives us absolute confidence in her eternal state.”

Sarah was born Sept. 3, 2007, and became a Christian at age 6, Baptist Press reports. “Christ was her hope in this life,” the family said. “He is now her hope in death.”

Years of Illness, Sung Through

Sarah's health struggles began while she was still in grade school, Baptist Press reports, and eventually led to years of specialist visits, feeding tubes, surgeries and treatment for what her father said was ultimately diagnosed as intestinal failure. The Christian Post lists further conditions from her long illness: neuromuscular weakness, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and gastroparesis.

Through those years, Sarah used social media to encourage others and speak about the sufficiency of God's grace, Baptist Press reports. In her last public post, she thanked the public for praying for her familiy, the Christian Post reports, and expressed gratitude for her support system.

“Thank you for praying for our family! I am the most blessed girl in the world to have such a strong support system,” she wrote, as quoted by the Christian Post.

“Especially my parents and care teams, who sacrifice so much to keep me alive and as comfortable as possible.”

Earlier in 2026, she wrote a line her father has since repeated, Baptist Press reports: “Maybe your miracle isn't a healing. Maybe your miracle is God showing you how to have faith, contentment, and joy in spite of your circumstances. That my friend, is even better than a healing.”

A Fighter, and a Foundation

Two days before Sarah died, her father wrote about the twelve weeks that had surprised everyone, as quoted by Baptist Press.

“We entered Hospice 12 weeks ago today and neither we nor the medical professionals had any idea she'd last more than a few days,” he wrote. “But my Sunshine is a fighter.”

“And God is Sovereign. His ways and timing are always best.”

Stone said the family needed nothing beyond prayer, Baptist Press reports, and expressed gratitude for the care they had received from relatives and their church family. The announcement on Tuesday drew an outpouring of condolences, the Christian Post reports, including messages from Bible teacher Beth Moore and Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries.

“My prayers are with you and your family, brother. They truly are. Her life was short, but it was well-lived to the glory of Christ. Well done, Sarah,” Peters wrote, as quoted by the Christian Post. Moore wrote: “May the same arms thrown open to welcome your beloved Sarah in heaven extend earthward to comfort all of you who grieve.”

Two months before her death, on her 19th birthday, the family announced the creation of the SonShine Foundation, both outlets report. Stone said Sarah wanted the ministry to support international missions and families of children with chronic illnesses who need long-term care, Baptist Press reports.

Sarah helped launch the ministry with a personal gift of $25,000 from birthday and high school graduation money and a small investment fund she had cashed out, Baptist Press reports. The name SonShine, Stone said, was chosen as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world and that the ministry would be Gospel-centered.

Other stories of faith carried through loss are told in Taylor Red Singer Nicole Taylor Dies at 35 After Breast Cancer Battle and Hannah Harper Thanks God for Answered Prayers One Year After American Idol Audition. A pastor who collapsed while preaching and came home is covered in Georgia Pastor Kenneth Taylor Collapses During Sermon and Comes Home After Hospital Stay.

Sunday's Service of Celebration

Sarah's life and legacy will be celebrated in a special worship service on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Baptist Press reports. A video commemorating her life and music ministry will begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by the main service at 3 p.m., both outlets report.

In announcing her death, Stone shared Job 1:21, the Christian Post reports: “The Lord gave. The Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Beneath Sarah's photograph in the family's announcement were the same words, Baptist Press reports.

When the family announced in August that Sarah had entered hospice care, Stone said the hope of the resurrection sustained them, Baptist Press reports. “As Paul told the Thessalonians, we grieve but not as those who have no hope,” he said. “We have a hope that is steadfast and sure, an anchor for the soul, that is the Lord Jesus.”

What people quoted was a 19-year-old's own sentence about miracles that are not healings — and a father's sentence about a daughter who outlasted every expectation by twelve weeks. On Sunday afternoon in Blackshear, a church will sing, a video will play, and a family will try to hold both sentences at once.

Whether the SonShine Foundation becomes the lasting part of Sarah's story is a question only the years ahead can answer, but her father has already said what he believes she wanted it to do: help other families facing the same long, expensive road she walked herself.

But the most surprising part of this story is yet to come — keep reading.