Sefton Abbott
June 17, 1910 - July 20, 2008

Exerpt from "A Sweet End", an email sent from Rose Wilkerson to Betty Holden just after Sefton passed on to the other side:
Betty,
I walked into Highland Farms just a little after 9:30 this morning and went directly to Sefton's room. I saw him sitting upright in bed, having just finished (I was later told) a fine breakfast, including scrambled eggs AND chocolate milk, which he had relished. I could tell however, that he was no longer breathing and that he was completely still and at peace. I overheard one nurse say to another, with no small degree of amazement in her voice: "he was just breathing a minute ago..." An RN with a stethescope came post haste and I knew they were being sure the pulse has stopped. I asked if I could come in but they asked me wait in the hall until he was given his "cleansing ritual." They were still somewhat shocked, as he had enjoyed the meal sothoroughly ... "a foretaste of the heavenly banquet," thought I. How beautiful and totally in character ... energizing himself for the journey home! You need to take great comfort in how lovingly he was cared for by the staff. (While I waited for Jim Abbott several came in to bid him farewell.) Later I was also told that all his vital signs had been normal after breakfast, only the oxygen was a little low and that they were giving him a breathing treatment (I believe this was the time they discovered his breath had stopped). It's like John Snell, the hospice social worker, said yesterday: sometimes the bubble just pops. I stayed in the room until Jim came to ask what I could do to help. While waiting I recalled from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" that songs and chants were intoned to the dead after the breath stopped so I sang to him: Taize (Bless the Lord my Soul...who leads me into life; also In the Lord I'll be ever grateful...in the Lord I will rejoice, look to God do not be afraid, lift up your voices the Lord is near), Amazing Grace, and Love Shall Come again like wheat that springeth green...such a lovely Celtic tune. (I had watched Sefton hum along to it in his "basso profundo" voice at the Thursday Highland Farms eucharist.) Then Jim came, we exchanged peace and information and I came to find you at church...Before I left last night I quoted him a passage of scripture ... the one affirming that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus" (which amazingly I could remember verbatim!) and sang him the verse from the Celtic "Love shall come again," which goes: 'When our hearts are weary, grieving or in pain, thy touch shall call us back to life again. Fields of our hearts which dead and bare have been: Love shall come again like wheat that springeth green.' He told me he would miss me and I told him the same. I made the sign of the cross on his forehead and kissed him. Such a blessed gift to have journeyed at the end and to the beginning of the life of our dear dear Sefton! -Rose

Contributed by Charlie and Kitty Johnson:
We used to take Sefton out to eat occasionally and one time, Charlie and he went together....when the bill came, neither had any money! They didn't have to wash dishes to pay, but were trusted to return with the payment! And Charlie did! Good laugh on them.....Kitty Johnson