Obituary of Sylvia Mae Whitfield

Sylvia Mae Williamson Whitfield, of Aiken, SC, lost her battle with Alzheimer’s disease and passed into Paradise on February13, 2019.

Mrs. Whitfield was born January 6, 1937 in Bryson City, NC. She grew up in the Murphy, NC area, attended Hiawassee Dam School where she was Valedictorian of the class of 1955.

Following graduation, Mrs. Whitfield moved to Atlanta, GA where she worked for Bell Telephone Company, married, and had two children. In 1964 the family moved to Michigan, where Mrs. Whitfield was a homemaker and volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, the PTA, a room mother, and an athletic booster. 

Mrs. Whitfield worked for the National Bank of Detroit. She continued her education, studying accounting at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI.

In 1981 Mrs. Whitfield returned to the southeast, living in Chattanooga, TN and Augusta, GA, before retiring to Murphy, NC, where she cared for her mother, who also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Mrs. Whitfield enjoyed life with friends and her church, Reid’s Chapel. 

A lifelong Democrat, she also worked elections with the Cherokee County Board of Elections. Mrs. Whitfield was an avid reader, supporting local libraries most of her life. She also enjoyed gardening, especially growing flowers.

In 2014, a year and a half after her Alzheimer’s diagnoses, Mrs. Whitfield chose to move to Aiken, SC, where she resided with her daughter and son-in-law, who, with the assistance of their family, provided her long-term care. 

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at 1:00 pm at Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Murphy NC. The Reverend Mark Handy will officiate.

Mrs. Whitfield is survived by her son, David Whitfield and Em Forbes of Hayesville, NC, her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Douglas Edwards of Aiken, SC, four grandchildren Aaron and Crissie Edwards of Aiken, SC, Bethany and John Ross of Graniteville, SC, Ian Edwards of Atlanta, GA, and Carter Whitfield of Hayesville, NC, three great-grandchildren, a brother, Lowell and Nancy Williamson of Murphy, NC, a sister-in-law, Carolyn Williamson of Murphy, NC, her nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mrs. Whitfield was predeceased by her parents, Eugene Beecher Williamson and Nola Baines Williamson, and her brother Robert Eugene Williamson. 

Memorial donations may be made to Reid’s Chapel (Murphy, NC) or the Alzheimer’s Association.