Sylvia Lee Sones
84, Columbia
On July 3, 2024, Sylvia Lee Sones, 84, of Columbia, went home to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, after a four-year battle with Alzheimer’s.
She grew up in Pearl River County and was 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 five grandchildren.
She loved God, her family, her church and her many networks of friends. She 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. She enjoyed playing with local clubs and an online community for over 50 years and traveled to international conventions to play with her online network.
She 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, she was a devoted wife of 62 years, a loving mother to Mitch and Jill and Grammy to Mitchell, Melissa, Ross, Anna Lee and Ryan. She 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!
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Rudy Lee and Earline Woodward Lee Strahan; brother, Jerry Lee; and sisters, Claudia Powell and Margaret Smith.
Survivors include her husband, Richard Mitchell Sones of Columbia; son, Mitch Sones (Dion) of Grenada; daughter, Jill Taylor (Calvin) of Ocean Springs; brother, Doug Lee (Carolyn) of Picayune; and grandchildren, her pride and joy, Mitchell Sones (Clare) of Columbus, Ross Taylor (Taylor) of Jackson, Melissa Sones of Birmingham, Ala., 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 was in charge of arrangements.
