FAMILY MAN

Evert Anthony Nugent I, affectionately known as John was born on the 17th of July 1952, the twelfth of fourteen children born to Sebert C. and Esther M. Nugent, in Scott’s Hall, St. Mary, Jamaica. He began his formal education at Scott’s Hall Primary School, and Tom’s River All-Age School. He then relocated to Kingston, Jamaica and continued his education at McIntosh Industry Trade School. He specialized in becoming a Machinist in the woodworking & cabinetry field. Upon completion of this program, John secured employment with Craftsman Limited, a superior company on the island for fashioning furniture. He later progressed to the Jamaican Heritage, Limited, the preeminent company on the island for the production of genuine wood furnishings. During this time, John also became an entrepreneur, with his own woodworking business, he hired and trained employees in the wood-turning business.

In 1975, John had a spectacular year both professionally and spiritually. As one of the finest wood-turners in Jamaica, John was selected to construct furnishings for Queen Elizabeth II’s royal visit to Jamaica. It was also in this year that John attended a Seventh-day Adventist crusade conducted by Pastor J.C. Palmer, held in Marvely Park. As a result, in the summer of 1975 John became a baptized member of the New Haven SDA Church. John later transferred to the Hagley Park SDA Church to be closer to the other new converts in his family. He was active in missions, witnessing and winning souls to the Lord.

On December 2, 1979, John made the decision to migrate to the United States of America, where he joined some of his siblings in New York. Since he did not enjoy the cold he quickly moved to Orlando, Florida, the place he chose over all others to make his home.

After getting settled in Orlando, John decided on a career change by attending Mid Florida Technical to learn the craft of Auto Mechanics. Soon after he was blessed to meet his life partner and true love, Betty Faye Nugent, nee Jenkins. They were joined in holy matrimony on July 31, 1983. Their forty-year union produced two children, Evert Anthony Nugent, II, also known as EAN and Joy Christina Nugent. John and his family created a warm home of laughter, fun, solidarity, and affection. A home where friends and loved ones were always welcomed.

John remained a faithful church member. He held membership in the North Orlando SDA church where he was a charter member, All Nations SDA church in St Petersburg, FL and finally the Winter Garden SDA church in Winter Garden, FL. Throughout the years he has served the church as a choir member, deacon, and elder. John loved the Lord and purposed in his heart to be a part of His mission. On many occasions John could be quoted as saying “I die daily” an allusion to the words of the apostle Paul. Although comical, he actually meant it in the spiritual sense of dying to self, more of Christ and less of the flesh (1Cor.15:31).

John was a dedicated employee of the Orange County Public Schools for thirty years, where he worked as a school bus mechanic. Over the years, his virtuous work ethic allowed him to work his way up through the ranks, to become a school bus inspector. Unfortunately, he retired from this job, in which he took much pride, in 2017 when he was diagnosed with cancer.

John battled valiantly these last seven years until he was called to rest on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at 7:40 AM. He was surrounded by his loved ones up until his very last moments. John was extremely loved, admired, and supported by his family and friends who prayed for him and visited him throughout his illness.

He was predeceased by: his parents, Sebert C. and Esther M; his siblings, Verona Brown (nee Nugent), Noel Nugent, Ariel Nugent, Loris Dacres (nee Nugent), Evelyn “Deere” Nugent, and Esther Nugent. He leaves to mourn, his wife Betty, his son EAN (Jodi-Ann) of Bowie, MD; his daughter Joy of Richmond, Va; his grandchildren Micaiah (11), Saraiah (9), and Seth (3), of Bowie, Md. His siblings, Inez (Carlyle) White of Orlando, FL; Exford Nugent of St. Petersburg, FL; Carline Nugent, Beryl Nugent, Alieth Nugent of Ocoee, FL; Raphell (Eunice) Nugent of St. Petersburg, FL, and Clarence (Angela) Nugent of Orlando, FL; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces, in-laws, and many other loved ones and friends.