Margaret Celeste Segrest

Margaret “Celeste” Segrest, 74, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2026, with her family by her side.

Born in St. Augustine, Florida, on April 21, 1952, Celeste spent most of her adult life in the Gainesville and Hawthorne communities. Her life’s motto was, “Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you,” and she lived those words every day.

A Nurse Practitioner for nearly 40 years, Celeste devoted her life to caring for others. Her career included emergency medicine, helping establish an air ambulance program at Shands, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and primary care. She also served in the Peace Corps in Belize and participated in medical mission work in Honduras and Guatemala. Though Alzheimer’s touched her final years, her compassion, generosity, and love for others remained evident throughout her life.

Above all, Celeste treasured her family. She is survived by her children, Shelby Whiteside (John) and Wesley Pennington (Terri); her grandchildren, Michaela, John Wesley, Ella, Lola, and Mea; her brother, Phillip Segrest (Sherry); her nieces and nephews, Claire Farnell (Rob); Scott Wieteska; Christy Sherman (Rob); Charles Segrest (Belinda); Brad Segrest (Natalie); and many other family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Margaret Segrest; her sister, Charlene Glenn; and her daughter, Margaret Pennington.