Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp: The tragic story of Jeremy Camp's wife

Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp: The tragic story of Jeremy Camp's wife

Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp was best known as the first wife of American gospel singer and songwriter Jeremy Camp. The two married in October 2000, but their marriage was tragically short-lived. Melissa died just three months later. This article shares her story and the events surrounding her death.

Melissa Camp leans on a tree.
Melissa Camp, the late first wife of Jeremy Camp. Photo: @melissaifonelife (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp was Jeremy Camp’s first wife, whom he married in October 2000.
  • She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which returned shortly after their wedding.
  • Despite her illness, Melissa remained faithful and spent her final days worshipping God.
  • She had three siblings and a stepfather called Mark, who was married to her mother, Janette.

Profile summary

Full name

Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp

Gender

Female

Date of birth

7th October 1979

Place of birth

Southern Carolina, USA

Date of death

5th February 2001

Age at death

21 years

Place of burial

San Diego, California, USA

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

White

Religion

Christian

Occupation

Homemaker

Spouse

Jeremy Thomas Camp (2000 – 2001)

Mother

Janette Henning

Step-father

Mark

Siblings

3

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Who was Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp?

She was the first wife of Jeremy Camp, an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana.

Where was Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp from?

Jeremy Camp's first wife was born on 7th October 1979 in South Carolina, USA.

Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's family

Details about Melissa Henning's father remain unknown to the public. Her mother, Janette Henning, is a devoted Christian who emerged from the Jesus Movement of the 1970s. She is a pastor's wife and a mother of four. She is also a grandmother of eight, a Bible study teacher, a women's minister, and a writer.

Moreover, Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's mother teams with her husband Mark as real estate agents in San Diego County. The couple lives in the beach community of Encinitas, California.

Who are Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's sisters?

Melissa's sisters are Heather Dalton Henning and Megan Henning.

Facts about Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp
Top five facts about Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp. Photo: historyvshollywood.com (modified by author)
Source: Original

How did Jeremy Camp meet Melissa?

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Jeremy was leading worship at a Bible study on campus in 1999 when he spotted Melissa completely lost in worship in the congregation. He had just graduated from bible college.

Their flirtatious friendship somewhat landed them in a love triangle between Jeremy and a friend who introduced them. The situation forced Melissa to end both friendships, breaking Jeremy's heart.

When he learned that Melissa had cancer, Jeremy left everything to keep her company. The two dated for a while before he proposed to her at the hospital, where she was undergoing chemotherapy.

When was Jeremy and Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's wedding?

After dating for about a year, Lynn and Jeremy tied the knot in October 2000. She was 21 while the singer was 23. After marriage, the couple lived close to the beach in Carlsbad, California.

How long was Jeremy Camp married to Melissa?

Their marriage lasted about three months, from October 2000 to February 2001, when she took her last breath.

What was Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's cause of death?

Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp died of ovarian cancer on 5th February 2001, nearly three months after her wedding to Jeremy Camp.

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Melissa and Jeremy Camp on their wedding day
Melissa and Jeremy Camp's wedding picture. Photo: @silas
Source: Facebook

What was Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's diagnosis?

Melissa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000, when it was in its late stages. The cancer had already spread throughout her abdomen and reached the liver. Jeremy Camp proposed to her a year later at the hospital, and the two had a huge wedding.

Did Melissa Camp's cancer really disappear?

Melissa Henning was declared cancer-free a month before her wedding to Jeremy Camp. She fell ill shortly after their honeymoon. Doctors then discovered that the cancer had returned and spread throughout her body.

How did Melissa Camp pass away?

Doctors gave her only a few weeks to live after the cancer returned. Jeremy Camp's wife accepted the news with peace. She spent her final days singing and worshipping God.

Melissa Camp's last words were:

If One Life comes to faith in Jesus Christ because of what I go through it will all be worth it!

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Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's funeral

She was laid to rest at the El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA.

Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp and her mother
Melissa sits close to her mum. Photo: @melissaifonelife
Source: Facebook

As Melissa battled cancer, gospel singer Jeremy Camp continued performing in Southern California. He shared their testimony and believed in a miracle. He completely lost his desire to make music when she died in 2001.

A pastor encouraged Jeremy to keep singing and sharing his testimony through his music. In 2002, he released his first nationally distributed album, Stay. Jeremy Camp's songs had inspiring lyrics that touched thousands of lives.

Between 2002 and 2017, Jeremy released 11 albums and sold nearly 5 million albums. He also received numerous awards and nominations. These include five GMA Dove Awards and four ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Awards. He also earned three American Music Award nominations and one Grammy nomination.

Is I Still Believe Based on a true story?

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I Still Believe and Walk by Faith were among the first songs Jeremy Camp wrote about his wife's battle with ovarian cancer and her death. He wrote Walk By Faith during their honeymoon, and I Still Believe after Melissa's burial.

I Still Believe was later turned into a movie. The cast of I Still Believe featured KJ Apa starring as Jeremy and Britt Robertson playing the role of Melissa.

Is the movie I Still Believe on Netflix or Hulu?

Jeremy and Melissa's I Still Believe movie is on Hulu, Netflix, FXNow, fuboTV, Google Play, Amazon, iTunes, and Vudu.

Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp smiling at home
Melissa smiles in a white top. Photo: @wickliffe
Source: Facebook

Did Jeremy Camp remarry?

Melissa Henning's husband married South African singer/songwriter Adrienne “Adie” Camp (née Liesching) in 2003.

How did Jeremy Camp meet his second wife?

Jeremy Camp met his second wife, Adrienne Liesching (now Adrienne Camp), while both were working in the Christian music industry. Adrienne is a South African singer born on 12th July 1981.

She was the lead singer of the Benjamin Gate, a Christian pop-rock band that started in 1998 and broke up in 2003. The couple has two daughters, Bella Camp and Aerie Camp.

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Does Jeremy Camp still talk to Melissa's family?

The American singer has maintained a good relationship with his late wife's family even after remarrying and having children with his second spouse.

What Jeremy Camp song is about Melissa?

Jeremy Camp wrote the song “I Still Believe” about his late wife, Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp. The song reflects his faith and trust in God even after losing her to cancer.

Facts about Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp

  • Her mother taught her and her sisters to believe in Jesus Christ.
  • She was a worship team and choir leader, an impactful college student, an athlete, a mentor, a camp counselor, and a writer.
  • Melissa and Jeremy Camp were part of a worship team that performed in Southern California.
  • She loved children and worked as a preschool assistant and a nanny.
  • Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's mother released a book titled Melissa, If One Life..., in her memory.
  • Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp's book is a treasure full of her unedited journals.
  • Heather Dalton continues to share her sister's story to inspire people.

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Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp died young but full of faith in God. She and her husband's love story has positively influenced many. Many who knew Jeremy Camp's wife remember her as a devoted Christian who loved people and was good to many.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
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Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo has vast experience in search engine optimization through digital content generation, research, editing, and proofreading. She joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019 and completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.

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Alice Wabwile (Lifestyle writer) Alice Wabwile is a multifaceted content creator and Project Assistant at AfDAN, boasting over four years of experience. Holding a BCom degree from the University of Nairobi School of Business, she has cultivated a dynamic skill set through roles such as her tenure at Strathmore University's Data Science Department, where she contributed significantly to research. Recognized for her exceptional talent, she clinched the Writer of the Year Award. Beyond her professional endeavours, Alice is an engaged member of the Rotaract Club of Kabete. For inquiries, reach out to her at alicenjoro01@gmail.com