Mary A. Sylvester

Mary Alice Sylvester (nee Rutland), was the daughter of Edmond Rutland and Mary D. Callaway Rutland, born in Macon, Georgia. She departed this life on Friday, October 10, 2025 at home.

She was the oldest Grandchild of Clifford and Sarah Lizzie Callaway; loving and devoted Wife of Frank C. Sylvester, Sr.; beloved Mother of Regina Sylvester, Frank Sylvester, Jr. (Sharyl) and Yolanda Sylvester (deceased); doting Grandmother to Megan Sylvester; Great-Grand-mother to Nicole and Nylah Williamson; oldest Sister of Clinton Rutland (Wilma Lee, deceased) and Clarence Rutland (Janice) of San Diego, California. Also leaving a host of brother and sister-in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, acquaintances and special friends.

Her parents moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1937. She attended Columbia Elementary and graduated from Withrow High School. After graduating, she worked as a stock clerk at Gidding Jenny Department Store. She attended Revelation Baptist Church when her parents joined in the 1940’s and in the 1950’s, she met her future husband, Frank C. Sylvester, Sr. They were married in 1957. Mary Alice served on the Men’s and Women’s Day Board at First Baptist Church, where they raised enough money to buy a new Church Van, President of The Pastor’s Aid at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and she became The First Lady of The First Baptist Church of Delhi when Frank was called to be a minister, where she worked diligently and faithfully by his side until her health failed in 2019.

Mary Alice was a strong role model in our household. Being a stay at home Mom, she played two roles as Mom and Dad while Dad worked two jobs to support the family. She was a Den Mother, a PTA Parent, Lunch Lady at Shroder Jr. High, now known as Shroder High School, devoted football Mom who didn’t miss a game cheering her son on at Moeller High School and an active grandparent. When we became old enough, Mom went out into the workforce as an assembly worker at Ford Motor Company in Batavia and later retired from Sharonville Transmission Plant.

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