On July 3, 2024, at the age of 84, Sylvia Lee Sones went home to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, after a 4-year battle with Alzheimer's.

Sylvia grew up in Pearl River County, MS, the middle daughter of Earline and Rudy Lee. She received an associate's degree in banking from Pearl River Community College where she was a cheerleader and a maid on the Homecoming Court. She married Richard Mitchell Sones on June 2, 1962 and together they raised two children and 5 grandchildren.

Sylvia loved God, her family, her church, and her many networks of friends. Sylvia had a career in banking that spanned over 20 years, working at Bank of Franklin County of Meadville, Hancock Bank of Poplarville, First State Bank of Bogalusa, and Citizens Bank of Columbia. Her passion for bridge began as a young married couple when she and Richard began playing with friends. Sylvia enjoyed playing with local clubs and an online community for over 50 years and traveled to international conventions to play with her online network. Sylvia sang and played handbells with the choir at East Columbia Baptist Church where she was an active member for 43 years, serving on the counting committee and helping with Vacation Bible School. Above all her roles, Sylvia was a devoted wife of 62 years, a loving mother to Mitch and Jill, and Grammy to Mitchell, Melissa, Ross, Anna Lee and Ryan. Sylvia loved celebrating with her family, never missing a baptism, birthday, sporting event, dance recital, show choir performance, or graduation. She enjoyed cheering on her Mississippi State Bulldogs by tailgating in their RV at football and baseball games—Go Dawgs!

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Rudy Lee and Earline Woodward Lee Strahan, her brother, Jerry Lee, and her sisters, Claudia Powell and Margaret Smith. She is survived by her husband Richard Mitchell Sones of Columbia, her son Mitch Sones (Dion) of Grenada, her daughter Jill Taylor (Calvin) of Ocean Springs, and her brother Doug Lee (Carolyn) of Picayune. Sylvia's grandchildren, her pride and joy, are Mitchell Sones (Clare) of Columbus, Ross Taylor (Taylor) of Jackson, Melissa Sones of Birmingham, AL, Anna Lee Taylor of Reston, VA and Ryan Taylor of Ocean Springs.

The family would like to thank Marion General Hospital, The Myrtles Nursing Home, and St. Luke Hospice for their care and support during her final days. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Samaritan's Purse for Operation Christmas Child sharing Christ's love to children all over the world.

Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia is in charge of the arrangements. Friends can sign an online guest register book at www.hathornfuneralhome.com.