Linda Michelle Rogers

“Precious one, so small, so sweet,

Dancing in on Angel’s feet,

Straight from Heaven’s brightest star,

What a miracle you truly are.”



As Albert Einstein wrote, “We dance for laughter, we dance for tears…we dance for hopes…we are the dancers, we create the dreams.” A very special young lady entered into life and brought laughter to the world, tears of joy in her successes, and hopes for a bright future. She was a dancer, and she followed her dreams. Linda Michelle Rogers, known to all as Michellita, danced her way into hearts and lives of so many around her, and each person she knew was truly blessed by her love, smile, and joy.

On a fair Tuesday in Dallas, Texas, Maria Acosta Camacho and Jose Fiscal eagerly awaited the birth of their new baby girl. Little Michellita came into the world on January 31, 2006 to her delighted parents and her older brother, Donnie Rogers Acosta. As she grew up, Michellita’s kind spirit and sweet manner warmed the hearts of those around her. She loved to play and make her family laugh and smile, but she also loved to dance. She excelled in dancing and gymnastics as her parents encouraged and cheered her on to go after her desires. Michellita joined the Uplift Williams Preparatory cheerleading team around the age of 7 in 2013. She continued with the Uplift Williams Preparatory cheerleading team for two years. In 2015, her cheerleading team was awarded the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading, SC Celebration, and CMT “WOW Award.” This award was the first of many achievements Michellita would receive along with her team. As Michellita grew in her friendships and skills as a cheerleader and dancer, she joined Falcons Cheer Elite, a cheerleading team, in 2016. Through the next two years, Michellita performed with the Falcons Elite and competed in numerous competitions such as the SC National Championship, the SC Amazing National Championship, the SC Dallas Mavericks Championship, the SC Cowboys Classic, and the SGA Nationals Championship. Through her hard work and discipline, Michellita was awarded the Falcons Cheer Elite’s “Most Versatile Cheerleader” in 2016 and 2017. Between 2017 and 2018, Michellita moved up to the Falcons Cheer Elite “Gold Stars,” an All-Star cheerleading team. Through the “Gold Stars,” Michellita went to the SC National Championship and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader National Championship. Cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics were passions of Michellita. She loved to perfect her backtuck and fly for the team. Michellita loved it when Coach Gibson chose her to fly for a routine; she was filled with so much joy and happiness as she sailed in the air and back down into her teammates arms. The last fly routine Michellita performed was hailed as “the best prep to teddy bear we have ever seen.” Her most current role in the “Gold Stars” was center. She stood out in the front of the team and proclaimed to her team and audience, “Ok, ladies now let’s get in formation!” She had a natural ability to shine and motivate her team while she stood out to the audience. Amongst all of her passions and joys in cheerleading, she truly enjoyed the companionship of her team and her coaches the most. She made so many friends and memories through the cheerleading teams. Her cheerleading friends and coaches will always remember her flashy smile and her warm personality.

During the day, if Michellita wasn’t in cheer practice encouraging her teammates, she was in her school motivating her classmates. Michellita went to Uplift Williams Preparatory School ever since Kindergarten. With each grade, she dove more and more into learning and her education. Math was one of her favorite subjects in school. Her teachers always commented how much Michellita volunteered in the class and made everyone, teacher and student alike, smile and laugh. Talented, sweet, thoughtful, smart, curious, cheerful, and energetic are all words that teachers used to describe Michellita. She “had such a bright spirit” and “lightened up the room when she came into class…[with] a smile on her face.” “Her positive outlook and enthusiasm was infectious, and she made those around her want to be happy.” “She was always the first to volunteer when something needed to be done or when someone needed a friend.” “She was so kind and never had a negative thing to say about anyone or anything.” Some of her teachers recall Michellita walking into class with her adorable smile with her two front baby teeth missing, hair up in pigtails, and giving hugs each and every day. Even after she would leave a grade level, her wonderful attitude and joy danced through teachers’ minds as they remembered their sweet student or saw her in her different classes. Michellita had many friends in school whether they were in her grade, in grades above her, or in grades below her. The cheer team certainly helped Michellita to find friends all over the school, but really it was her warm, inviting nature that made her a friend to everyone. She loved to laugh and share jokes. Michellita enjoyed helping others in class and out in the playground. She liked to show friends the homemade slime she created and would sell a few jars here and there for friends to take home. Michellita loved her friends and her teachers so much, and she acted out her love through generosity, kindness, thoughtfulness, and gentleness. Michellita had such a bright and wonderful mind, but it was her heart and spirit that shined in school, cheerleading, home, and the world around her.

Michellita, in the words of famous choreographer, Bruno Tonioli, “started dancing before [she] could talk. Other babies learn to stand and then walk – [she] just danced.” Michellita’s parents recall Michellita’s first walks as a baby were always on the tips of her toes—just like a ballerina. From that moment, they knew their “Princesa Hermosa” would be a dancer. “When you dance, you can enjoy the luxury of being you,” according to lyrist Paulo Coehlo. Michellita, whether with her friends, teammates, or family, was always herself, through and through. Michellita grew up energetic and lively as a bird in spring. She loved to jump on her trampoline and soar into the air much like she would as a flyer for cheerleading. Michellita also loved to swim and read books such as the Maze Runner series. Like any growing and active girl, Michellita liked to eat delicious foods. She enjoyed eating spaghetti and meatballs, mole, chicken alfredo, Subway cookies, Duvalín candy, chocolate cake, and Hershey’s chocolate. She especially like to eat Thanksgiving turkey every year. Michellita liked to drink Sprite as well as blue Gatorade. She loved to make things and get the kitchen messy as she baked cakes or made slime. Occasionally she would leave her mess lying around, but her family wouldn’t mind. Michellita had a servant’s heart and a generous spirit. She always served others when she could and helped the homeless she encountered. She prayed for her family, her friends, her teachers, and her cheer team on a daily basis. Michellita’s relationship with her “Papá Diosito” was very close, and she loved Him with all her heart. She worked hard to memorize bible verses such as Jeremiah 33:3, Proverbs 5:6-7, and Psalms 139. Michellita sang to her Lord; she loved to sing. With her caring heart, Michellita wanted to grow up to be a doctor. She wanted to help others as much as she could and save lives. Her caring heart went out to all, but her family were the most blessed by it. Michellita gave her mother, her father, and her brother her love, and through her love, she gave them joy. Donnie often called Michellita his “little bro” regardless of his dad saying that she was his “sis” instead. Donnie claimed that his “little bro” could give him a smile, a compliment, or a hug that would make him so happy and joyful in his heart. Whether it was throwing pillows at each other, joking with each other, or sneaking Subway cookies in for a birthday treat, Donnie and Michellita had a special relationship only an older brother and a little sister can have together. Michellita’s parents also had a wonderful relationship with their “Princesa Hermosa.” Each of her parents described Michellita as an exceptional daughter that was their blessing from God. Every day of Michellita’s life was a gift to her parents as her words, actions, and heart filled their home with joy. Not a single day could have been expressed as dull or lacking with Michellita’s enchanting smile and laughter. She liked to be around her family and be apart of all family activities. She like straightening her cousin’s hair. She enjoyed listening to Twenty-One Pilots’ song, Ride, with her family while drawing or creating art. Art was a passion of Michellita’s, and her family framed and hung many of her art pieces. Each work of art was beautiful and unique, just like Michellita. On weekends, summer days, or quiet evenings, Michellita liked to watch movies like Moana or be the star of her own little movie. She was very photogenic with her bright eyes, flashy smile, and adorable dimples. Michellita loved to make her family smile, laugh, and feel happy. She loved her family each and every day of her life.

“We can’t always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it.” The lives of Michellita’s family and friends were rocked when Michellita passed away due to a sudden tragic accident in her home on Friday, February 23, 2018. Although Michellita didn’t choose to leave her family so soon, she is choosing now to dance with the Lord and His angels in Heaven. She would want her family to dance as well. As the popular saying goes, “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Michellita lived a life of joy, happiness, smiles, and love; she would want her family, friends, teammates, classmates, teachers, coaches, and everyone else she knew to love life the way she did. Just as she danced and twirled upon stage, Michellita will always be dancing in the minds of those she loved. Her love, her smile, and her beautiful spirit will be missed by everyone. Michellita Rogers will always be alive and dancing in our hearts.

Michellita is survived by her loving parents, Maria and Jose Fiscal; her devoted, big brother, Donnie Cliffton Rogers Acosta; her grandmother, Amparo Camacho; and a host of family, friends, classmates, teammates, and mentors.

The funeral service in honor of Michellita Rogers will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 6:30 PM at Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. A reception will be held immediately following the funeral service at Park Cities Presbyterian Church. The visitation for Michellita Rogers will be held on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Hughes Family Tribute Center in Dallas, Texas.

Michellita lived a life of love and joy. Her memory will be with her family and the community forevermore.