Gary L. Mangum

1956 - 2025

Gary L Mangum (retired) of Stevensville, Queen Anne's County, and lifelong resident of Maryland, passed away at his home on the Chesapeake Bay on December 15, 2025. He was 69 years old.

Gary is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Sonia Johnson Mangum, his children Chase Mangum (Sommer) and Kyle Mangum, Heather Hamilton (Mike), Lindsay Mangum, and his grandchildren Jake, Violet and Callen. Gary is also survived by three siblings: Lori Connor (Kevin), Dale Mangum (Margaret), and Lisa McCarthy (Mike) and many adoring nieces and nephews.

Gary was born in Takoma Park, MD on July 25 1956 to the late Robert T. and Shirley Benner Mangum. Much of Gary's youth was spent in Ashton, MD, where he graduated Sherwood High School in 1974. Gary was an entrepreneur from an early age, working first for his parent's flower shop, Bell Flowers in Silver Spring, MD, and then later, under his parents leadership as the horticultural businesses grew and expanded. He and his partner, and brother-in-law, Mike McCarthy, grew the growing operation, Bell Nursery, from less than $1 million when it was acquired from Gary's parents in 1994, to $186 million in annual sales by the time the business was sold in 2018. Over the years, hundreds of millions of plants were sold through The Home Depot, where the partner's innovative approach to helping change the gardening retail environment has been adopted by virtually all major growers across the country. The Bell Nursery model - investing in service personnel in their signature purple shirts in all Home Depot locations that Bell served, sophisticated merchandising, pay by scan and large scale recycling have now become the industry norm. Gary also pioneered the State of Maryland's first medical marijuana growing facility and held positions in a number of other business ventures. He served as President of the Landscape Contractors Association, Chairman of Associated Landscape Contractors of America, and was an active member of the Maryland Farm Bureau and the American Horticultural Society. He was a founding member of the Plants for Clean Air Council, and served on the Green Industry Task Force for Pollinator Habitat. Gary also served as an Industry Liaison for the NASA Stennis Space Center Plant-Based Research. He received numerous awards, including "Visionary of the Year" Award from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Gary was featured or quoted in a variety of major industry publications, including The Washington Post, The Baltimore Business Journal, and Grower Talks magazine.

Gary's influence extended to state and local politics. In 2014, Gary took an active role in the successful campaign of Governor Larry Hogan, later helping to grow the Executive Finance Committee and, in 2015, accepting an appointment to the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Critical Areas Commission where his longstanding passion for the environment, especially the Chesapeake Bay, proved indispensable. Gary received the "Maryland Republican of the Year" award in 2014 as well as the prestigious Dick Hug Award for his commitment to Maryland politics in 2015. In 2022, Gary was appointed to the University of Maryland Medical System Board (UMMS), where he helped oversee ongoing and unique medical research and programs while helping garner both public and private support for various UMMS initiatives.

Just before he retired in 2024, Gary was instrumental in fundraising efforts for the new hospital in Easton, MD., currently under construction.

During his life, Gary worked to serve the communities in which he lived and the causes that were dear to him. He was a generous advocate and supporter for the Walter Reed Medical Center, Chesapeake Charities, Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff, the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Truckin for Troops, Gold Star Moms of Maryland, Project Serve, the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Center of Maryland, and the Ruth M Kirk Learning & Recreation Center in downtown Baltimore.

Gary had a curious mind, was an avid reader, an eloquent writer, a thoughtful and willing debater, and a kind and generous friend. He enjoyed photography in and around his home on the bay. Those who knew him could always look forward to receiving a copy of his annual "Chesapeake Sunsets" calendar.

Emerson once said, "it's not the length of life but the depth of life" that matters. Gary lived his life deep and well. He had a beautiful wife and family he loved. He had a profession that gave him great joy. He had amazing friends, he traveled, and he was a giver.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, December 29th from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD 21619. The funeral service will be held at Kent Island Methodist Church, 2739 Cox Neck Road, Chester, MD 21619 on December 30th at 10 am. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery, 5319 Ocean Gateway, Queenstown, MD 21658.

For anyone wishing to make a memorial donation, the family appreciates you considering a donation to The Ruth M Kirk Learning & Recreation Center. Donations can be made through Chesapeake Charities, c/o The Ruth M Kirk Learning and Recreation Center in memory of Gary L Mangum.