Sylvester Joseph Miller Sr.

Learning of Sylvester’s passing was heart-wrenching. How do we even begin to tell you what he meant to us? What a beautiful journey we had with him, from small time pig farmer (back in the day when most did not know his real name, but we all referred to him as “Pig Man”), to cowboy to big time rancher. How blessed we are to have been given the opportunity to call him friend.

We knew Sylvester as a man who was stubborn, but full of integrity and character; as someone who harnessed his power to his passion, honored his calling, trusted his heart, and went confidently in the direction of the fight… we are glad we were able to know him and glad for the joyous memories that we were privileged to have had in knowing him…we have no words to express how deeply sorry we are.

Family, here’s what we know: when a life has been lived, openly, honestly, successfully and completely, perhaps we should just smile.... today, we smile and salute Sylvester and bid him farewell.

Sylvester, in the way he lived his life, taught us at his finest, that while the world rages on around us, let's just sit for a moment in this beauty and remember that when all is said and done, the love we leave behind is all that will remain of us after we're gone.… We’ve lost an amazing friend; we are humbled to have known him … he was one of a kind and will never be forgotten.

As you know, there are cultures in the world that mark a person’s passing with a celebration of life. We don’t know if you’re up for a parade, a marching jazz band or a wild Zydeco party, but if we can help you to remember Sylvester and all the greatness, he brought into the world, we’re standing by... dance shoes, jazz and Zydeco are optional… a moment of happy reflection is not.

So, when the bridge over this grief seems shaky and long and you need a friend, we are here for you. If you need some quiet, we are happy to be still. If you need to talk, we are here to listen. If you want to be alone, we can wait. Please know that we are ready to help and thinking of you as you grieve your loss. What an amazing person and what a remarkable life… we feel so lucky that Sylvester was a part of our Northern California Coalition of Black Cowboys & Cowgirls family.

And now, as he takes leave from us, we will thank him for all the laughs, the love, for all the attitude and gratitude, for all the joy and sunshine which he brought into our lives. We do not doubt that Sylvester is free from the pains that he so long endured, here; losing him is nothing easy, but knowing that we have been a part of his life… for this we are all blessed.

So, as we join our prayers with others in expressing how very sorry this death leaves us, we remember that in the summer land when we gather at the river, it is a sweet comfort to think that among the loved and lost he may meet us on the other side, “Not dead, but gone before...”

Words may not serve to express the heartfelt sorrow we feel for the passing of Sylvester, please accept our condolence,

The Northern California Coalition of Black Cowboys & Cowgirls