Mary Agnes Rector Sawyers

Mary Agnes Rector Sawyers peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at eighty-nine (89) years of age, at Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center in Somerset, Kentucky, with her loving daughter at her side.   Mary Agnes is survived by her devoted daughter and only child, Jacqueline Sue “Jackie” Sawyers, of Villa Hills, Kentucky.  

Mary Agnes was preceded in death by her beloved husband of almost sixty-six (66) years, the late Frederick Hartwell, Sawyers, II; her parents, the late Wendell and Lela Rector; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, the late Pauline Hay and Charles Sawyers; her two brothers, the late Clay Cooper Rector and the late Wendell Thompson Rector, both of whom died serving in the United States Navy; four sisters, the late Lucille Becraft, the late Pauline “Terry” Jandecka, the late Josephine “Jerri” Parsons, and the late Leah Rose Tower; five sisters-in-law whom she loved as if they were her own sisters by birth, the late Virginia Sawyers LaCaillade, the late Betty Sawyers Cross Riddle, the late Mary Ann Sawyers Britton, and the late Shirley Sawyers Aebersold; one brother-in-law, the late Richard “Dickie” Sawyers; two nephews, Michael Aebersold and John David Tower; and a niece, Rhonda Aebersold.

In addition to her beloved daughter, Mary Agnes is also survived by one sister, Jean (David) Gilbert of Gettingsville, Indiana; three (3) sisters-in-law, Margaret Sawyers Harbin of Louisville, Kentucky, Gaye Sawyers (Lynn) Campbell of Irmo, South Carolina, and Charleen Sawyers Bolton of Lindale, Georgia.   She is also survived by twenty-three (23) dear nieces and nephews, namely, Cheryl Jandecka, Charles Jandecka, Paula Becraft,  Max Becraft, Leslie Gilbert Irwin, Carol Margaret Parsons Partridge, John Parsons, Todd Parsons, Ronnie Tower, Yvonne Tower, Jeffrey Martin Cross, Dottie Lynn Cross Hayes, Kent Britton, Carol Britton Vander Meer, Jayne Harbin Pettit, Eric Harbin, Patricia Sawyers Stalcup, Doug Aebersold, Susan Campbell, Chris Campbell, Rick Bolton and Brian Bolton. 

Mary Agnes is survived by a host of very special great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews too many to mention them all by name, all of whom loved her dearly as did she them.   Her great nieces and nephews include her de facto and adopted grandchildren, Jessica Ballou (Andy) Roberts and Kenneth Martin (Maggie) Ballou and their five children, Drew Roberts, Stella Jean Roberts, Cecil Ballou, Ruby Ballou and Owen Ballou.  

Mary Agnes had many cousins and other relatives who will miss her dearly, including Dudley Pitt and Fran Hay, who checked in on her daily.   Mary Agnes also had a host of beloved friends, and Mary Agnes would want to specifically recognize her special friends, Myra Groce, Buddy (Lori) Longwell, Betty Reneau, Landon Tuggle and Chastity Tuggle, all of whom were like family to her, and her entire Albany First Baptist Church family.

Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Mary Agnes knows that she was an amazing and special lady.  The positive things that can be said about Mary Agnes’ life are too numerous to mention.   To sum up her life in three words, Mary Agnes was devoted to her faith, her family, which included her family by birth, by marriage and those who were part of her “adopted” family, and her friends.    

The primary focus and mission of Mary Agnes’ life was to serve her Lord and Savior in any capacity God needed her.  Mary Agnes faithfully attended Albany First Baptist Church from the time she was less than two (2) weeks old and was carried into the Church by her Father until recently when her health prevented her from regularly attending the Church services in person.   But, even then, she faithfully tuned in to WANY radio on Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. to listen to the worship service from earlier that day, and often, she would send the Pastor a text message about his message for that day.  

Mary Agnes taught a Sunday School class at Albany First Baptist Church for over sixty-eight (68) years, most recently having taught the Fidelis Sunday School Class for over thirty (30) years.   Mary Agnes served in many capacities in the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) of Albany First Baptist Church. She proudly served as the Girls-in-Action (GA) leader for many years.   It would be an understatement to say that Mary Agnes devoted a lifetime of Christian service to Albany First Baptist Church and the Clinton County community as a whole.   

At a recent service at Albany First Baptist Church in her honor, she was described as a “pillar” of the Church, and that is an accurate description of her life.   Mary Agnes was humble and never wanted praise or recognition for anything she did serving her Lord and Savior.  She loved her Church family and prayed for them every single night when she went to bed, and often at other times during the day if God laid it upon her heart that someone was in need of her prayers. 

During her recent hospitalization prior to her death, Mary Agnes talked about her faith and her assurance of life eternal.  Although she was afraid of the surgery she had to undergo for her broken leg and the rehabilitation period that she knew was going to follow, she repeatedly told Jackie and others that she was in God’s hands, that his will would be done and that she would rejoice when she made her journey to heaven because she would see her beloved Frederick and all of her other family and friends who had passed before her.   What a blessed assurance that is for Jackie and those who survive her.  

Mary Agnes worked for over fifty-five (55) years for the Clinton County Board of Education.   She taught four years of typing and business and then transitioned to the position of the administrative secretary to the principal of Clinton County High School having served in that capacity with many principals until she retired on July 31, 2009, with her last principal, David Warinner.  Many teachers who have seen her since her retirement have complimented her for how much she taught them and how much they loved working with her.  Many of the ladies who worked in the office with her have shared stories of how much Mary Agnes taught them about typing, business and record-keeping. 

One of the amazing things about Mary Agnes’ work with the school system for all of those years was her ability to adapt to the changes of the times.   When she first started working at the High School, she used a manual typewriter.   But as technology progressed, she learned how to use the computer, send e-mails and even text.   She loved to text her family and friends!!!

With her fifty-five (55) years at Clinton County High School, she met literally thousands of “kids” as she referred to them.   She was proud of her work with and her service to the school system.   After her retirement and even before then, she loved running into one of her “kids” when she was out and about around Albany.   Even with her most recent hospital stay at the Medical Center of Albany, she enjoyed talking to and about her “kids” over the years.   She would want all of her “kids” to know how much she loved you.  Her legacy with the school system will live on forever. 

Anyone who knew Mary Agnes knew how important the United States military was to her.  She always made it a point to tell people how special the United States military was to her and how it had impacted her life from having lost her two brothers, Clay and Thompson, in the United States Navy, her two sisters, Pauline and Josephine both having served in the Women’s Auxiliary Corp, known as the WACs during World War II, and her beloved Frederick having served in the United States Army in the Korean War following his graduation from high school in 1950 before they married in 1954.   She even had that conversation with several of the nurses at Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center in the days prior to her death. 

There are so many more things that can be said about Mary Agnes’ life, which time will not permit.   Suffice it to say, Mary Agnes had a positive impact on everyone she met and will be gravely missed by all who knew her.    

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects to Mary Agnes at a visitation at Talbott Funeral Home in Albany, Kentucky, on Sunday, January 7, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST/5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST.  (Family may visit at 3:00 p.m. CST.) and visitation again the following morning on Monday, January 8, 2024, until 10:45 a.m. CST/11:45 a.m. EST when the family will leave for the funeral service.   The funeral service to celebrate Mary Agnes’ life will be held at 11:00 a.m. CST/12:00 p.m. EST, at the Albany First Baptist Church, in Albany, Kentucky with Bro. Nathan Britt officiating.  Mary Agnes will be laid to rest next to her beloved, Frederick, in the Albany Cemetery immediately following the service. 

The Albany First Baptist Church will be hosting a meal in honor of Mary Agnes after the burial service.  Mary Agnes was actively involved in the Bereavement Committee and would be honored for anyone who is able to attend and participate in the meal to be served by the Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Mary Agnes Rector Sawyers to Albany First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 453, Albany, Kentucky 42602,  or to the Five Springs United Methodist Church,  c/o Debbie Craig, Treasurer, 111 Ray Brown Road, Albany, Kentucky 42602.

Talbott Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of arrangements for Mary Agnes Rector Sawyers.