Rev. G. B. Sergeant died in San Antonio, Texas, April 16, whither he had gone in hope of improving his health, which had been declining for several months. His remains were brought home and buried in the cemetery at Bunceton, Mo. His brother, G. A. Sergeant, was with him, and reports his death triumphant. The funeral services were held in the church at Bunceton, of which he was recently pastor. H. D. K.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian May 5, 1881, page 4]

Many inquiries having been made as to why no memorial notice of the life and labors of brother Sergeant has ever appeared in the Church papers, the writer believing it to be the duty of the Church to preserve and give some prominence to the record of its useful men, has undertaken to furnish the following sketch:

Rev. George B. Sergeant was born in Trigg county, Ky., March 19th, 1844. He was the second son of Dr. J. W. and Rebecca J. Sergeant. Having lost his father in early childhood, he was left, together with a brother and sister, to the care of an earnest Christian mother, to whose pious example and precepts he was indebted for many of those qualities of mind and heart that distinguished him as well in the social circle as in the pulpit.

My first acquaintance with brother Sergeant was in the Sunday-school where I was impressed by his prompt and earnest attention and his well prepared lessons. He professed religion in his sixteenth year and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Salubria Springs, in Christian county, Ky. He dated his impression to the work of the ministry from his conversion, but felt constrained to aid his brother, by laboring on a small farm, to place his now invalid mother and young sister in more comfortable circumstances. In 1866, Mrs. Sergeant, with her family, removed to Obion county, West Tenn., and being now more comfortably settled, she felt that she would give George up to the preparation for the work to which he felt called.

In April, 1867, he placed himself under the care of Obion Presbytery and entered at once upon the preparatory studies for the ministry.

In the fall of 1868 he entered the classes of Oxford University, Miss., and transferred himself to the care of Oxford Presbytery. By this Presbytery he was licensed to preach in 1871 and, in 1873 was ordained to the whole work of the ministry.

Brother Sergeant's delicate constitution did not permit him to gratify his ambition to obtain a thorough classical education, but his love of literary and theological learning enabled him to become a polished preacher. The first four years of his ministry were spent in the bounds of Oxford Presbytery, Miss., where the name of Sergeant will long remain dear for his work's sake.

In February of 1877, having been called to the charge of New Salem and Bethel congregations, in Cooper county, Mo., he came into the bounds of New Lebanon Presbytery, and in April following, he united with this Presbytery and soon gave evidence that he was a valuable addition to its working element.

As a Presbyter, he occupied the front rank--as a pastor, he was active and successful, winning the hearts of his people and drawing his members into active cooperation. He was hearty in his support of the leading enterprises of the church, and his congregations were always represented in the contributions for missions, publication, and education.

Dec. 3, 1879 he was happily united in marriage to Miss Maggie Crenshaw, of Bunceton, Mo., who entered into full sympathy with his work. But this union, so full of promise of a happy usefulness, was destined to be of short duration. During the fall of 1880 his health began to decline but he continued at his post until a short time before his death, only quitting his work at the earnest solicitation of friends to travel for his health, and in a few brief weeks he gave down suddenly, and on the 16th day of April, 1881, in the city of San Antonio, Texas, he triumphantly passed from labor and suffering to rest and heaven.

In a letter addressed to the writer about forty-eight hours before he died, and with a clear consciousness that death was at hand, he assured me that his faith was victorious. He said, "I fear no evil--His rod an His staff they comfort me. With the light of two worlds reflecting upon me, I was never more calm in my life. I have surveyed the field prayerfully and was never more composed than now since convictions that death is present, have forced themselves upon me." A telegram announcing his death reached me before his letter. So lived and died our dear brother Sergeant. He fell in the fresh vigor of a useful ministry. His work was quickly done and well done.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian June 22, 1882, page 1]