March 27, 1937 - March 8, 2019
Mary David Sargent of Boynton Beach, Florida, died in the arms of her loving Lord on Friday, March 1, 2019 at the hospice of Delray Medical Center. She was the daughter of Mary and David Sargent of Lake Worth. Mary was an educator and David was an avid outdoorsman and grocery store manager. Mary David was born on March 22, 1937 in Welch, West Virginia, and lived with mental impairment since birth. She lived a hard and courageous life. Her mother raised and taught her at home until 1980. Her older sister, Jean, was her fierce defendant and loving support her whole life long. Mary moved to Lake Worth, FL, in 1968 when her parents retired, and with them she attended the First Presbyterian Church. She also received caring support from the Palm Beach Habilitation Center of Lake Worth.
Mary David had an amazing memory for people and things that happened long ago and a special interest in family. She learned to read and write. She loved Country and Gospel music, especially Amy Grant. She loved the ocean and the color aqua. She loved Coca-Cola, eating at McDonalds (two parfaits!), Toojays and also the Banana Boat, where she enjoyed a beautiful shrimp dinner by the water with family just days before she died.
When Mary’s father died in 1980 and her mother died in 1983, she faced deep grief and being on her own with persistent faith in the all-compassionate love of Jesus Christ. With the assistance of family and friends, through regular worship, prayer and the practice of meditation, Mary matured emotionally and spiritually to live a productive life. She lived in Belle Glade for more than twenty years and attended the South Bay Missionary Baptist Church. She was proud of her income-producing job doing custodial work. When she moved to Boynton Beach in recent years, she joined and attended the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach with her sister and brother-in-law. Her family is deeply grateful for the church’s ministry to people with special needs supported by The Rev. Phyllis Parthemer and also senior pastor The Rev. Patti Aupperlee. There, she was a cherished part of the Body of Christ. Mary attended the church’s very dignified Night to Shine galas where she dressed in formal wear, danced, had her picture taken and felt like a million bucks!
Mary David is survived by her loving and loyal sister, Jean Sargent Brown, and brother-in-law, Roland Brown, of Lantana, FL; nephew Gregory Brown and family Jason Smith, Christina Brown and Andrew Brown of Wilmington, DE; nephew David Reed-Brown and family Cindy Reed-Brown, Matthew Reed-Brown and Kirby Reed-Brown of Simsbury, CT; second cousin George Webb and family June Upchurch and Jordan Webb of Ashville, North Carolina. She is predeceased by her cousin Virginia Webb of Lake Worth and second cousin Bob Webb of Abington, PA. The family extends deep thanks to her caretaker of more than twenty years, Eva Reese of Belle Glade and her recent caregiver, Carole Pierre Louis of Boynton Beach. The family also thanks the hospice medical staff of Delray Medical Center for their professional, compassionate care.
Calling hours will be at 9:15 am, March 13 at The United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches followed by a funeral service at 10 am and reception. She will be interred next to her parents at Pinecrest Cemetery in Lake Worth. Mary knew she was a child of God, loved unconditionally. She knew she was a cherished human being of dignity and worth who mattered as much as anyone else. This gave her life great meaning. When Mary’s nephew, David, wheeled her back home after dinner, her last words to him were, “Sweet, sweet love,” over and over again.
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