Mary M Mangrum

Mary Martha Ann Mangrum, age 92 was given by God on January 2, 1933, to the late Sarah Fonsville and the late Ember Taylor of Lawrenceville, VA. Surrounded by her loved ones, at home, in Wilmington, DE, she departed this life and began her eternal rest on May 14, 2025. She received her education in the public schools of Lawrenceville, VA. Later, she met and married Charles Mangrum. From this union, Charles, Sarah, Virgil, Raymond, Edward and Raphael were born. In 1958, Mary moved her family to Wilmington, DE, to be closer to her mother. She studied cosmetology and worked as a maid. After years of residing in DE, she met and fell in love with Ben Arledge and gave birth to Dorothy, Jackie and Ben. Mary was a devoted and loving mother to her children, the neighborhood’s children and a second mother to many of her grandchildren, whom she raised. Her door was always open to whomever. She was a dedicated homemaker who made countless sacrifices for her family. She was the matriarch and loved all things “family”. Whenever anyone’s birthday came around, you could count on her to be on the phone, serenading you with the birthday song. No matter how she felt or what she was going through, when asked how she was doing, her response was always “Blessed…in spite of and because of” and every conversation ended with her saying, “Peace and Love”. Above all, Mary loved the Lord. She loved reading God’s word. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 51:10 which reads, create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. She was the mother of New Gethsemane U.C.O.D. in her former years and later moved her membership to New Birth Ministries. She loved having devotion with her daughter and granddaughter, just singing praises unto the Lord. Additionally, she enjoyed having bible study at home, led by her great-nephew Charles “Eddie” Folks. She named it Eddie’s Temple and told him when she went on to be with the Lord, he was to do her eulogy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sarah Fonsville and Ember Taylor, her sister, Dorothy Barner, her five sons; Charles Mangrum, Virgil Mangrum, Raymond Mangrum, Edward Mangrum and Raphael Mangrum and three grandsons; Jamar Kilgoe, Nathaniel Mangrum and Raekwon Mangrum. Left to forever cherish her memory are, her three daughters: Sarah Saunders, Dorothy “Sheila” Mangrum and Jacqueline “Jackie” Morales all of Wilmington, DE. Her son; Ben Mangrum of Fort Worth, TX, her son-in-law; Michael Saunders, her two daughters-in-law; Anna Mangrum and Tondra Mangrum, her brother; Dr. Bishop Randolph Taylor of Philadelphia, PA, thirty-four grandchildren, seventy-four great grandchildren, twenty-six great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mary M Mangrum

January 2, 1933 - May 14, 2025