Sarah Leigh Halbert

R.N., B.S.N.

January 1st, 1968 – July 25th, 2019

Sarah Leigh Halbert of Jacksonville, Florida was born on January 1st, 1968 at St. Vincent’s Hospital to Larry and Anna Halbert. She was a dedicated nurse, devoting over 19 years to working in the health care field. Sarah graduated from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, Texas when she was only 16 years old, and after graduating continued her educational pursuits in nursing. She began as a medical assistant and worked against all odds to receive her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing after recovering from a severe head injury. Sarah graduated top of her class and lead her fellow peers as Mistress of Ceremonies during her graduation. She worked in the health care field as a nursing instructor and operating room nurse, helping students and patients through her overflowing kindness and contagious passion for life.

Sarah was an accomplished surfer, placing in tournaments from coast to coast. She drove from place to place with friends and family to enjoy sand, waves, and sunshine. Her love of surfing even lead to a small appearance in The Legend of Billie Jean; Sarah can be seen in the background of a beach scene that her uncle, Gene Halbert, can pinpoint in a heartbeat. She continued to surf through a majority of her life and even taught her nephew after buying him his first board.

Sarah was a strong and beautiful person that could make an entire room laugh with a charming narrative or quick joke. She was so full of life and wanted to share it with anyone and everyone, whether it was catching up with someone she knew or making new friendships while out running errands. Her love and compassion for both animals and people is well remembered among her friends and family. Sarah’s life is a shining example of how each day should be lived in happiness and light, caring for those we hold dear and remembering to laugh even when life is wearisome.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church Saturday August 10th, 2019 at 10 AM, followed by a small reception. A separate service will be conducted at a later date to release Sarah’s ashes at her favorite surfing spots during a paddle out memorial.

"Surfing is the most blissful experience you can have on this planet, a taste of heaven"

John McCarthy