Mary A. Merchant Waters-Langrell, accomplished realtor
It is with great sadness that the family of Mary A. Merchant Waters-Langrell announces her passing Sunday, April 5, 2020. Mary and her twin sister, Eva, were born Nov. 10, 1927, to Richard E. Merchant and Mary A. Randolph Merchant, in Chester, Pa. Their mother died two days later due to complications from birth.
Mary and her sister Eva were then taken to North Carolina to live with their grandparents. When they were 2 years old, they contracted whooping cough. Mary survived, but lost her sister. This was a rough beginning to Mary’s life. Mary resided in North Carolina for seven years before returning to Chester.
Mary’s father had remarried and in 1938, he bought the old Ebright Farm on Ebright Road just north of Talleyville. They named their home “Winterset Farm.” Mary loved her early years growing up on the farm. The farmhouse was located on the state boundary lines of Delaware and Pennsylvania. Mary would go to sleep in her bedroom in Delaware and have her breakfast the next morning in the kitchen in Pennsylvania. Mary loved all of the animals on the farm, particularly the cows and horses. Even at her young age, she was an accomplished horseback rider. The farm had a riding academy and Mary would take the public out on the various riding trails on the farm.
Mary was a longtime resident of Wilmington, Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. Mary started her career in real estate in 1958. For most of the next 38 years, Mary was an agent for Patterson Schwartz Realtors. In 1969, Mr. Charles Schwartz stated to Mary that there were more and more women starting their careers in real estate sales and that they should form a Delaware Chapter of Women’s Council. Mary from New Castle County, Melba Robinson of Kent County and Virginia Joy of Sussex County formed the first Women’s Council Chapter for the State of Delaware. Mary was the first president of the State of Delaware Chapter.
In 1975, Mary became a governor for the National Chapter of Women’s Council. In 1977, Mary became a regional vice president of the National Chapter of Women’s Council and oversaw Women’s Council matters in Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The National Chapter of Women’s Council asked Mary if she would be a speaker at the National Convention of Realtors that was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Fla., in 1977. This was an honor for Mary as she was devoted to assisting all women realtors.
Mary was a director of the New Castle County Board of Realtors, director of Delaware Association of Realtors, and was a state chairman of the Realtors National Marketing Institute for the State of Delaware. Mary received the Delaware State of Realtor of the Year Award in 1977, and was elected into the Delaware Realtor’s Hall of Fame in 1995. Mary enjoyed her years at Patterson Schwartz and the many friendships that were made with so many realtors throughout the State of Delaware.
Mary was predeceased by her mother, Mary A. Randolph Merchant; her father, Richard E. Merchant Sr. ,and stepmother Evelyn Merchant; her twin sister, Eva Merchant; her brothers, Richard E. Merchant Jr. and Randolph Merchant; and her first husband, Albertus E. Waters.
Mary is survived by her husband, John E. Langrell; her daughters, Lynda E. Webster (Donald), Sheila M. Moran (Terry), Debra Waters Roome (Jim), and Diana Waters Gantt (Dallas), and their immediate families.
The family would like to especially thank her loving caregivers, Michelle and Evelyn of Griswold Home Health Care of Sussex County; nurses Jennifer and Abby of Delaware Hospice, Milford, for making Mary comfortable in the last years of her life.
There will be a private burial service at Grace Episcopal Church, 4900 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. Due to the coronavirus, a celebration of Mary’s life will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a contribution in Mary’s name to Grace Episcopal Church or to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
