Margarita Sotomayor

Age 97 passed away peacefully while receiving excellent care through the staff at The Willows, Spring Arbor Assisted Living Center and Southern Care Hospice. Ms. Sotomayor was a devoted Christian woman who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout her life, she used her many talents to support, teach and mentor others spiritually and professionally. Ms. Sotomayor was born on 11/09/1921 in Las Marias, Puerto Rico to Valentine and Perfecta (Morales) Sotomayor. She was raised with four sisters and two brothers in Las Marias, San Sabastian, and Mayaguez Puerto Rico and graduated college with a degree in nursing. She married her husband Jay C. Roxberry in 1945, who was returning home from service in World War II. She moved with him to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 1946. They moved with their two boys, John and Michael, to Detroit Michigan in 1950 where Mr. Roxberry found work with General Motors. In the 1950’s, Ms. Sotomayor worked as a secretary for George Romney while he was president of American Motors Corp and later started her career in public service as a psychiatric nurse and counselor at the Detroit House of Corrections. In 1959, Ms. Sotomayor began a social work position with the Wayne County Dept. of Social Service and eventually became a supervisor, section manager, manager. She retired in 1988 as Director of the Redford District with Wayne County Dept. of Social Services. Throughout her public service career, Ms. Sotomayor was a social activist within the Latino community in Southwest Detroit. She was a founding member of LA SED, Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development. Following retirement, Ms. Sotomayor returned to Puerto Rico for approximately five years before moving to Cocoa, Florida for the majority of her retirement. In 2006 due to declining health, Ms. Sotomayor joined her son and daughter in law Michael and Pamela Roxberry in Michigan and resided in Spring Arbor Michigan until her death. Ms. Sotomayor was loved by countless family and friends. She is survived by her son Michael (Pamela) Roxberry, Grandchildren: Elizabeth Roxberry, Benjamin Roxberry, Maureen Roxberry, Barbara (Matthew) Maged, Carmen Richardson, and Colin (Bailey) Treacher. Great Grandchildren: Rilyn Allen, Elizabeth Maged, Gracie and John Richardson. She is also survived by four sisters: Rosa Elena, Blanca Pattison, Gloria Rose, and Elba Velez. There are many extended family members including cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friend Marina Planas. Ms. Sotomayor was preceded in death by her husband Jay C Roxberry, one son John C. Roxberry, her parents Valentine and Perfecta (Morales) Sotomayor, brothers Valentine and Miguel Angel. Family will greet relatives and friends during visitation at Calvary United Methodist Church 925 Backus Street, Jackson Michigan 49201 from 10:00 am to 11:00am on Saturday, October 19, 2019. A funeral service will be held at the church at 11:00 am. Internment will be at Spring Arbor Cemetery on M-60 in Spring Arbor, Michigan at 2:00pm. Memorial contributions may be sent on Ms. Sotomayor’s behalf to LA SED (a non-profit 501c3 agency) at 4138 W. Vernor Hwy. Detroit, Michigan 48209. Memorial envelopes will also be available at the church.

www.patience-montgomery.com

Patience-Montgomery Funeral Home

406 First St.

Jackson, Michigan 49201