Father John F. Mangrum

The Reverend John Fuller Mangrum, age 87, went to be with the Lord on March 18, 2010. He was born May 22, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, of Melvin & Mary Gailey Mangrum. After wartime service on Okinawa, in WWII, Fr. Mangrum was Honorably discharged from the Army as a Captain and continued in the Air Force Reserves until 1955. He decided to pursue Holy Orders, graduating with a Masters of Divinity from Berkley Divinity School at Yale in 1949 and was ordained an Episcopal Priest January 6, 1950. He married Shirley Renton Stahelin (deceased 2001) May 26, 1956. Fr. Mangrum retired in 1990 from a long and interesting life of service, touching the lives and hearts of a multitude of people in all walks of life. After retirement he continued as Chaplain of Bishop Gray Inn and instructed in the Southeast Diocese School of Christian Studies. He served as Rector of St. James Episcopal, Albion, MI 1949-51, Superintendent of the Detroit Boys Home and Rector, St. Peters Episcopal, Detroit, MI 1951-55, Asst. Rector, Bethesda by the Sea, Palm Beach, FL, 1955-56, Vicar, Holy Spirit Episcopal, Apopka, FL, 1956-58, Vicar, St Edwards the Confessor, Mt. Dora, FL 1956-61, Rector, Redeemer Episcopal, Avon Park, FL, 1961-64, Rector, St Mary’s Episcopal, Tampa, FL, 1964-1974, Dean, St Johns Cathedral, Jacksonville, FL, 1974-77, Rector, St Martins, Clewiston, FL, 1977-79, Rector, St David’s, Wellington, FL, 1979-90, and final assignment as Chaplain, Bishop Gray Inn, West Palm Beach, FL, 1990-2005. He continued his education with studies at Nashotah Theological Seminary and received four honorary Doctorates from University of Tampa, El Shaddai, Evangelical Methodist Reformed, and Geneva Theological. He is a long time member and assisting priest at St Paul’s, Delray Beach, FL. Beloved in the Community as well as the Church, Fr Mangrum received recognition as co-founder of the Village of Wellington, worked extensively with Boys and Girls Clubs, Founding Board member of Growing Together, Polo Priest for the Wellington Polo Club, Chaplain for spring training with the Cincinnati Reds & Atlanta Braves Baseball Clubs, and played in the Symphony Orchestras of Tampa and Jacksonville. He was active in the Elks, VFW, Rotary, Kiwanis, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His sister, Marjorie Brisebois of Michigan, surrogate son, Guy Diffenbaugh of Jacksonville, and a multitude of loving friends survive Fr. Mangrum. A Requiem Mass for Fr. John will be celebrated at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach at 1030 am Tuesday, March 23rd, Rt. Rev. Calvin Schofield, Jr., presiding, with a reception to follow the Mass at the church. A Priest’s Vigil will be held Monday evening 5-9pm also at St Paul’s Episcopal Church. Priest to Royalty and stars as well as the down and out, Fr. Mangrum was welcomed home to his eternal reward with “well done thy good and faithful servant”.