Shirley Ruth Mathias Sylvester

Shirley Ruth Mathias Sylvester of Dahlonega, GA, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2017, at 82 years old. Shirley was born to parents Homer and Audra Mathias on May 12 1935 in Larwill, IN. She had an older brother James Devon Mathias. She graduated class of 1955 from Ball State University, Muncie, IN. She was married to Steven Rosser Keith Sylvester on December 19, 1957. Shirley raised 5 children, Scott Sylvester (Bella Vista, AR), Stephanie Anderson (Augusta, GA), Steven Sylvester (Dahlonega, GA), Stuart Sylvester (Norcross, GA), and Stacey English (Cumming, GA).

Shirley spent most of her career working with special needs children. She volunteered with League of Women Voters, Meals-on-Wheels, and adult literacy programs. She enjoyed connecting with people in the community (she knew no strangers), square dancing (and all the outfits that go with that), taking walks to see what she could discover, gardening, writing to family and friends. Shirley loved hanging out and playing games with her 11 grandchildren. She was very active in supporting her children and grandchildren in their endeavors. Life was an adventure with Shirl!

Shirley loved poetry, Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost among her favorite authors.

Hope is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

Ive heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

- Emily Dickinson

Thank you for your prayers! The family will be having a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Meals on Wheels Lumpkin County 266 Mechanicsville Rd Dahlonega, GA 30533 (706-864-2358).

Ingram Funeral Home Crematory, Cumming, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.