"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4: 7-8

Bishop Michael Deone Isler, 63, passed away from this earth to be with the Lord on July 24, 2022 at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center after a long illness. He was a kind gentle soul who loved gardening (orchids were his favorite flower), an avid rollercoaster enthusiast, and spending quality time with his family.

He was born October 3, 1958 in Goldsboro, NC.  He graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1976. Bishop Isler accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a teenager and accepted the call to preach the gospel at the age of 16 years old. He would tell the story of how the Lord called him into ministry. "As a young boy I had a job delivering papers to the local community. One morning as I was getting my papers together, I heard someone call my name.…"Michael." Looking around, as I knew I was the only one in the warehouse, I didn't see anyone there. I brushed it off and went back to getting my papers together. Then again, I heard my name clear as day. I walked around the entire warehouse and nobody was there. I fell to my knees overcome with the Lord's presence and said, "Yes Lord". The Lord said to me, "Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men." It was at that moment Bishop Isler accepted the call to ministry under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Catherine Williams of Central Heights United Holy Church in Goldsboro NC.

He met the love of his life, Cindy Brown Isler at Greater Guiding Star Holy Church in Goldsboro, NC. She was 14 years old ushering at her grandfather's church and he was 15 years old.  As he walked in church she said, "It's going to be a good service today!" Their love story commenced and for the next 48 years they would be each other's best friend. Michael and Cindy married on July 18, 1981. To this union they were blessed with two beautiful children, Derrick and Crystal Isler.
During his study at Winston-Salem State University, Bishop Isler joined Macedonia TVPH Church where he served faithfully for over 20 years. He was a member of the choir and enjoyed singing and leading songs. He was a dynamic preacher and served as Assistant Pastor under the leadership of Apostle S.D. Johnson. He was consecrated to the Office of Bishop in 2001.  He was a member of Madame Mary L. Haynie & the Victory Praise Ensemble & Winston-Salem Triad Chapter of the GMWA.

Bishop Isler was the first African-American male nurse to receive his BSN from Winston-Salem State University in 1982. He also received his MSN Nurse Educator degree, graduating with distinction, from Capella University in 2017. He had over 40 years of professional experience in nursing, including 18 years of cardiovascular clinical nursing, cardiac clinician, cardiovascular case management, telephonic nursing covering the state of NC and Georgia, and telephone triage covering Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Home Health.  He worked at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Novant Forsyth Medical Center, Call-a-Nurse and retired from Winston Salem State University Student Health Center.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Pauline Jones Isler (adopted mother), Emmitt Isler (adopted father), Dessie Uzzell Loftin (birth mother) and devoted father-in-law, Rev. David Lee Brown. He leaves to celebrate his life a loving, dedicated and devoted wife of 41 years, Cindy Brown Isler; a loving and devoted son and daughter, Derrick Dominique Isler of Winston-Salem, NC and Crystal Shantrice Isler, of Cary NC; a loving mother-in-law, Nora Jean Brown of Goldsboro, NC; two sisters, Gloria Jean Thompson of Goldsboro NC and Jacqueline Patrick of Phoenix, AZ; four brothers, Horace (Danny) Thompson, Jr. (Pat) of Goldsboro, NC, Ben Uzzell (Nellie) of Simpsonville, SC, Harold Uzzell (Erica) of Tallahassee, FL, and Broderick Isler of Enterprise, AL; two brothers-in-law, Vice-Bishop Dr. David N Brown (First Lady Dr. Margo Brown) of Pinehurst, NC and Elder Terry Lee Brown, Sr. (First Lady Pearlie Brown) of Suffolk VA; one sister-in-law, Andrea Brown Worrell (Freddie Worrell) of Goldsboro, NC; a devoted cousin, Anthony Rochester of Philadelphia, PA; a goddaughter, Mani Johnson of Winston-Salem, NC;  the entire Uzzell Family; a loving extended family: Madame Mary L Haynie, James Haynie, Varia "Val" Haynie, Angela L Haynie, Jerry Haynie and the entire Clara and Fred Brown family; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other loving relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 6:00pm Friday, July 29, 2022 at Russell Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 12:00noon Saturday, July 30, 2022 at Macedonia Worship Center, 500 Kinard Drive Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 11:30am until 12:00noon on Saturday at the Church.