Sybil Todd Coward, 92, passed away with her loving family by her side on Monday, October 12, 2020, in the Intensive Care Unit of Rush Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi. Graveside services and interment will be 4:00 p.m. Thursday, October 15 in Union Ridge Cemetery with Rev. Greg Thomas officiating.
Sybil was born January 23, 1928, to Robert and Gussie Lorene Shaw Todd in Zama, Mississippi. She was a member of Union Ridge Baptist Church of Noxapater. She was a graduate of Noxapater High School, which was a boarding school at the time. Sybil lived in the dormitory and worked at Lane Barnes Grocery. She enjoyed playing basketball in high school and earned the All-State award. Sybil worked as a bookkeeper and in the accounting departments at various retailers. She was also the secretary for the Flower Ridge and South East Water Associations reading meters, billing, and collecting payments until she retired at the age of 85. Sybil was a hard worker; she loved to work and she also enjoyed fishing, needlepoint, embroidery, and working in her yard and her beautiful flowers. She was an exceptional seamstress and a great cook. One of her greatest enjoyments was to have all of her family at her house on a holiday. She also enjoyed cooking for her grandchildren and their friends at any time.
Sybil is survived by her five children: Billy Wayne Coward and wife Johnna of Noxapater, Barbara McCully and husband Stanley of Louisville, Danny Coward, Jerry Coward and wife Wanda also of Noxapater, and Barry Coward and wife Kathy of Clinton, Mississippi. One of her greatest joys was being “Granny” to her 10 grandchildren: Ramona Rogers, Anita (Paul) Peoples, Billy (Kim) Coward, Rebecca (Jeremy) Yates, Stacey (Dawn) McCully, Tyler (Amanda) Coward, Cody Coward, Angie (Michael) Pletzke, Emily (Todd) Wayts, and Christy (Andrew) Chason. Granny could say what she wanted about her grandchildren but no one else was allowed to do that! She also loved her great-grandchildren: Jonathan Rogers, Connor (Meagan) Peoples, Rowen, Caitlin, Alyssa, and Morgan Peoples, Sydney Coward, Ethan and Hunter Yates, Josh McCully, Rae Lynn and Hattie Coward, and Addison, Cooper, Zach Pletzke, Lily and Asher Wayts, and Lucy and Camille Chason, as well as her four great-great-grandchildren: Anabelle, Hayden, Aria, and August Peoples. Sybil is also survived by her brother-in-law Gerald Taylor and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Coward, granddaughter Amy Lyn Coward, great-grandson Judah Michael Peoples, her parents, and her siblings: Alma Norris, Edsel Todd, Gladys Taylor, and Howard Todd.
Serving as pallbearers are Barry Coward, Jerry Coward, Billy Coward, Cody Coward, Tyler Coward, and Stacey McCully. Honorary pallbearers are Andrew Chason, Josh McCully, Paul Peoples, Michael Pletzke, Derrell Taylor, Kary Todd, Todd Wayts, and Jeremy Yates.
Memorials in honor of Sybil may be given to Union Ridge Cemetery Fund, c/o Jamie Clark, 1629 Johnson 5 Road, Noxapater, MS 39346 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Tribute Program, P. O. Box 1000 Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowell-masseyfuneralhome.com.
Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowell-masseyfuneralhome.com.
