Celeste D. Saxton-Garver, 57, of Westminster, Maryland passed away November 3, 2015 at Carroll Hospice Dove House in Westminster following an extended illness. Born February 27, 1958 in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Harvey L. Saxton and Angela Attardo Saxton. She was the devoted wife of Richard L. Garver.
Celeste received her Bachelor’s Degree from Hood College, Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University, and PhD from Southeastern University. In addition to the degrees she earned, Celeste was certified through the Maryland State Department of Education as Secondary Principal/Supervisor, Administration II and Superintendent. She began her teaching career as a classroom teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools. With solid knowledge and experience in the classroom, she accepted the positions of mentor teacher for BCPS employees, and cooperating teacher for Interns from various local universities.
Demonstrative of her effective leadership skills, Celeste was appointed assistant principal of Parkville High School. As the administrator that supervised special education at Parkville, Celeste fostered integrity, fidelity, and rigor in programs and services for students on the autism spectrum and students who were deaf and hard of hearing. With additional skills and experience in curriculum and grant writing and program development, Celeste was appointed by the Carroll County Board of Education under the recommendation of Dr. Charles Ecker as Supervisor of Social Studies. During the latter part of her tenure with Carroll County Public Schools, she became Supervisor of Staff Development. Celeste worked tirelessly to celebrate the successes of the teachers she supervised, and as a result, her teachers have been awarded numerous honors at both local and state levels. Dr. Saxton-Garver prided herself in the development of many hands-on learning opportunities for students within the Carroll County Public Schools social studies curricula.
Dr. Saxton-Garver was recognized as a member of the Westminster Kiwanis, honored member of the Manchester Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals, board member for the Baltimore Cancer Support Group, and member of the Westminster Moose Lodge.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters Sara Megan Sciaretta of Hanover, PA, and Natalie Peake and husband David of Sykesville, MD; stepmother, Shirley Saxton of Timonium, MD; sister, Valerie Sharpe and husband Michael of Ellicott City, MD; step sisters, Valerie Anderson and husband Steve of Phoenix, MD, Janet Kenney and husband John of Timonium, MD, and Victoria Bender and husband William of Ocean Pines, MD; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Saiontz and staff at the Westminster Cancer Center for their love, support, diligence, and guidance.
Services will be private per Celeste’s request. Arrangements have been entrusted to MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME in Westminster. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Celeste may be made to Carroll Hospice Dove House, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD, 21157 or the Baltimore Cancer Support Group, 7910 Belair Rd., Baltimore, MD, 21236.