Hundreds mourn Pass Christian teen Abby Bosarge’s death. ‘God has her.’
Abby Bosarge lived only 18 short years, but her spirit of love and light remains with her family, friends and thousands who followed her journey with leukemia.
Abby was unique. Not because she was beautiful. Not because she was an accomplished student at Pass Christian High School. Not because she was an exceptional athlete who excelled at soccer and had even joined a semi-professional women’s football team.
Abby stood out for her kindness, her desire that people love one another and her heart that gave and gave even after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in June 2020.
Abby died Oct. 28th, less than a month shy of her 19th birthday. She was a Thanksgiving baby, the second of Joey and Jerusha Bosarge’s five children, four of them girls.
Abby also lived until cancer overcame her, filling a bucket list with her family and friends, graduating on a beach in Galveston when she was too sick to return home from cancer treatment for the high school ceremony.
Melissa Mannion, who has since retired as a Pass High counselor, was on that beach with others from the school. She spoke to more than 300 mourners Tuesday at Abby’s funeral, held at the outdoor chapel of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Gulfport because of COVID-19.
Mannion said Abby was about 9 years old when they first met. Abby was serving as the “spunky and quick-witted” emcee for a school talent show.
“She was special and I was in awe of Abby Bosarge,” Mannion said. “Abby lived like she sang — beautifully, boldly and with every fiber of her body.”
Abby’s Army offers support
Mississippi Coast businesses rallied with donations for a beautiful mock wedding for Abby in June. She and her mother shared photographs from the occasion with 30,000 social media followers of Abby’s Army. Jerusha Bosarge posted regular updates, both joyous and tragic, to the Facebook group.
For the most part, Abby’s friends wore black dresses or suits to her funeral. A spray of pink and white roses covered her casket.
Her aunt, Aerial Longmire, also spoke during the service. She talked about Abby’s giving nature. Abby always picked a child with cancer to befriend while in the hospital, entertaining them and making them laugh.
She loved to bake, sharing her treats with family, hospital staff and therapy dogs. Abby loved animals, working as a volunteer at the Humane Society of South Mississippi. Her dog, Stan, attended her funeral service.
Abby Bosarge was a giver
Abby and her siblings learned from their parents to be givers. One Christmas, they donated their presents to less fortunate families.
“We are heartbroken to say goodbye to our precious Abby,” Longmire said. “But it’s comforting to say goodbye with so many people who loved her.”
“ . . . These are dark days but Abby would want us to keep moving until we find the light.”
Abby could be a little bossy, Mannion said, to the point that she left instructions for everyone:
“Choose to be kind. Choose to live wholeheartedly. Choose to forgive others.”
She busied herself ordering Christmas gifts and creating notes to those she would be leaving behind, ever concerned about the grief they would experience over her loss. She left her mom a glass box with notes, writing on the envelopes, “Open when you feel alone,” or, “Open when you are discouraged.”
To Mannion’s daughter, she gave a Pandora charm bracelet so her friend could add charms and think of Abby on special occasions.
Remembering Abby’s online orders, Mannion said, her dad Joey joked, “Amazon will miss her as much as we do.”
Abby asked that those who wish to remember her befriend the friendless, donate blood, volunteer, raise money for a worthy cause or donate to Abigail Bosarge Iconic Scholarship, which has been sent up in her name at Pass Christian High.
The Rev. Patrick Sanders officiated at the service. He told the gathered crowd, “I 100% don’t believe God took her. But I believe God has her.”
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 7:00 PM.
