Elizabeth Marie Darling

1955 - 2024

Darling, Elizabeth Marie

December 7, 1955 - November 13, 2024

Texas lost a daughter on November 13, 2024, when Elizabeth Marie Darling of San Antonio, Texas, died at the age of 68 after a two-year battle with ovarian cancer. Elizabeth was born in Fort Worth, Texas on December 7, 1955, to Ralph and Adelaide Darling. Adelaide once thought that Elizabeth, the youngest of three children, would likely never leave the nest. No one was prouder than Adelaide and Ralph when, during the course of her career, Liz would work for two U. S. presidents and four governors in Texas and Maryland.

Elizabeth and her siblings grew up on several acres in Willow Park, Texas and attended Aledo Public Schools. From 1965-1970 Liz sang in the Fort Worth-based Texas Girls Choir which met for rehearsals 3 times a week, and trained young women in leadership, choreography, performance, and musical theory. They recorded albums twice a year and performed across the US and Europe.

In 1970 the Darling family moved to Waco, Texas where Elizabeth attended ninth grade at Tennyson Junior High. Liz quickly gained recognition as "Liz Darling and Her Singing Guitar," playing for various classes and school activities. Liz graduated from Richfield High School in 1974 where she sang in the highly competitive choir program. The move to Waco blessed Liz with some lifelong friends. Many were faithful to the end, showing up with notes of encouragement, weekend girls' trips, and calls and texts to cheer and support. One of the last items Liz checked off her bucket list was to attend her Richfield 50th class reunion in May 2024.

Anyone who knew Liz understood her deep love of the outdoors. Growing up in the country near Aledo, she often described her childhood as idyllic; with the freedom to ride bikes, build forts, bake mud pies in her two-story treehouse and read in the crook of a favorite tree. Swimming was a favorite family activity. Elizabeth and her siblings sailed through their Red Cross swim classes, before teaching others the importance of water safety. She was awarded the Red Cross Certificate of Merit in 1974 for saving the life of an 8-year-old girl, victim of a near drowning.

Elizabeth graduated from Baylor University, with a BS in Elementary Education. She married Daniel Kyle Seale, a fellow Baylor Bear and moved to San Antonio. She taught English and Science at Hobby and Coke Stevenson Middle Schools, before having two children and adopting a teen. Her early years there were filled with philanthropic and volunteer work for various schools and nonprofits. She was also active in the adult choir and taught Sunday School at Trinity Baptist Church. In 1997, Liz was appointed by then Governor G.W. Bush to the Task Force on Faith-Based and Community Services, followed by a Senate confirmed seat on the Texas Board of Human Services. Thus began a career of navigating government policy, rules, and regulations to ensure that qualified nonprofits could compete on a level playing field to better serve citizens in need.

In 2001, Liz was appointed Founding Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the nation's capital. She described this time as a volatile mixture of religion and politics which greatly benefitted from her steady, nonpartisan leadership. A few years later, Liz was asked to serve as Deputy Secretary at the Maryland Department of Human Resources under Governor Bob Ehrlich. Her crowning achievement was oversight for the revamping of the working conditions at the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. In 2003, workers shared desks and phones and used file folders to track kids. Before her departure, conditions were vastly improved, and employee turnover was reduced.

In 2005, Liz became COO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, VISTA, the Presidential Service Award and many other programs designed to strengthen nonprofits in the 50 states and territories. After 8 years away from The Lone Star State, Liz had the opportunity to return to Texas in 2009, to lead the OneStar Foundation and National Service Commission as CEO/President. She served in this position for a decade under then Governor Rick Perry and successor Greg Abbott.

In 2019, Liz returned to DC to accept the Senate confirmed position of Commissioner for the Administration on Children, Youth and Families at HHS. The Senate confirmation process took almost two years. In early 2021 Liz moved back to San Antonio where she worked briefly for BCFS Health and Human Services Division, then retired due to her cancer diagnosis.

A constant learner, Liz earned her scuba certification, sailing certificate, pilot's license, Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), and a Certificate of Nonprofit Leadership and Management. She earned the America's Service Commissions' (ASC) National Leadership Award in 2017 before being named to their 2018 Honor Roll. Liz was also among those at the National Press Club for making the NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50 in 2014, 2015 & 2016.

Throughout her career, Liz indulged her passion for writing by authoring dozens of articles, blogs, and guest chapters on nonprofit management, public/private partnerships, and related subjects. She served on numerous state and national boards, including as Chair of the national board for Camp Fire. Liz went to Camp Fire Girls Camp El Tesoro in Granbury, Texas from age 8 through age 19 - as camper, counselor, canoe, and waterfront instructor.

When she was 3 years old, Elizabeth slipped out of the house early one morning, to be found on a neighbor's doorstep singing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" a foreshadow of her acceptance of Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in 1972. Her faith was tested and strengthened by each decision she made throughout life's journey. Whether singing or speaking for three or three thousand, Liz shared her gifts freely and joyfully.

Liz's mantra for life and work focused on relationships, mentorship, and connecting with others. She often said, "Life isn't about policies, publicity, fancy titles, or accolades, it's about the individuals whose orbit we become part of. It takes little to be kind and respectful, to listen and encourage, but it does require setting 'self' aside." To that end her greatest accomplishment and legacy lies in mothering three children and mentoring countless others using the same principles. Her colleagues and the nonprofit executives with whom she served described her leadership as effortless, graceful, respectful of differences, and firm a true Texas woman.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Emily Seale Buescher (Gordon), two sons, Jonathon Kyle Swayze and Quincy Daniel Seale (Natalie), and grandchildren Adelaide Rosemary Buescher, Daniel Brewton Buescher, and Alexander Quincy Seale. Surviving siblings are Ralph Edward Darling (Corrine) and Barbara Ann Darling (Don Schlessinger). Surviving family members include John and Caroline Gilpatrick and ten Gilpatrick cousins. Loved ones also include Liz's companion and love Christopher Baimbridge, with whom she shared a joyful and adventurous 12 years, and who stayed by her side throughout her illness.

Her favorite hymn accurately sums up this extraordinary woman: "My life flows on in endless song... how can I keep from singing!"

Liz donated her body to the U.T. Health Science Center for scientific research.