Grace Community Church hosts funeral service of former Boca Raton mayor

Rev. Jason Whitener, a pastor at Grace Community Church, said that a graveside ceremony was held before the memorial service of the former mayor. (Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash)

The Grace Community Church in Boca Raton, Florida, a city close to Miami, recently hosted the funeral services of its former city mayor. Susan Slade Whelchel died at 77 on Friday, Aug. 5, due to Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Grace Community Church’s Funeral Services for Former Mayor Whelchel

Former official Susan Slade Whelchel died on Friday, Aug. 5, as per a WPTV report. According to the report, the ex-mayor served Boca Raton for two terms before she retired from politics in 2014. 

On Thursday, Aug. 11, the Grace Community Church in Boca Raton hosted a 4 p.m. funeral service for the former mayor. As per The Boca Raton Tribune, the church held an hour-long memorial service for Whelchel in order to give time to her families, relatives, and friends to say their goodbyes. 

Rev. Jason Whitener, a pastor at Grace Community Church, said that a graveside ceremony was held before the memorial service of the former mayor. As reported, Whelchel was an active member of the church before she died. 

To show tribute, the Grace Community put a screen on the top of the altar to show a large photo of the former mayor and parishioner. The church also projected a video of Whelchel and her husband, John, who reportedly spent 52 years together as a married couple. 

According to the report, many of Whelchel’s colleagues in politics attended her funeral service. This included former Boca Raton mayors Susan Haynie, Bill Smith, Steven Abrams, and current mayor Scott Singer. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also tasked his staff to lower the flags in honor of the former mayor’s death. 

Remembering Susan Whelchel as Politician

As mentioned in the WPTV report, Susan Slade Whelchel served Boca Raton as mayor for two terms; the first happened in 2008. Before serving the city, the former mayor was already a Floridian since 1978 after she and her husband moved to Boca Raton. 

Prior to politics, Whelchel worked as an educator at Boca High, as per her son, Jay. She spent her 30 years teaching students, making Whelchel focused on education when she was first elected mayor. 

“She had a vision to bring quality education, excellent medical facilities, higher learning opportunities, adequate recreational facilities, public parks and nature centers to the city. She helped Boca achieve its goal in 2015 when Boca Raton was named the 11th best city in the country,” Jay said in the Boca Raton Tribune. 

Another remarkable thing Whelchel reportedly did for the city was refusing to increase taxes, despite the economic breakdown from 2008 to 2009. 

Remembering Susan Whelchel as Parishioner

According to the Boca Raton report, Whelchel would have celebrated her 78th birthday on Aug. 13. Despite not reaching her birthday, Kristy, her youngest daughter, said that she will always remember her mother as a person who loves the church and God. 

She added that her mother continued praising God and returned to church after the pandemic restrictions. 

Reverend Whitener seconded the statement of Whelchel’s daughter and said that the former mayor was at the church every Sunday to listen to his sermons. 

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