Biography

On November 13, 1958, Major, Dr. Michele L. Heidel (USAF ret.) was the youngest child born to James W. Durant and Creola M. (Anderson) Durant. On July 25, 1987, Michele married David M. Heidel. They celebrated their 32nd and final wedding anniversary in 2019. Michele was adored and loved by her three children:  Caché R. Heidel, Careena A. Heidel, and James D. Heidel. Michele was called home by the Lord on August 14, 2019.

Michele received her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee Institute in 1980 and 1984, respectively. Later on she also received her Master's in Public Health from the University of North Carolina and a certificate in Web Technologies from Tallahassee Community College.

After graduating from Tuskegee in 1984, she entered the United States Air Force as a commissioned officer with the rank of Captain. Michele retired honorably as a highly decorated officer at the rank of Major from the United States Air Force in 2004. She was a veteran of the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan Wars.

Upon her retirement from the United States Air Force she moved with her family to Tallahassee, Florida to be closer to her brother, Joseph T. Durant. Michele worked for the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Financial Services, and Department of Agriculture before retiring from the State of Florida in July of 2019.

Michele was a member with her family of Celebrate New Life Tabernacle Church in Tallahassee, Florida. Michele and David were over the marriage ministry, and Michele was also a deaconess and a member of the DOVES ( Daughters of Virtue, Excellence & Spirit) ministry serving the women in the church through various benevolent, outreach, and hospitality initiatives.