Sybil Hill Buckland

COLUMBIA - Sybil Marie Hill Buckland, 77, passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer. The Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with visitation following until 8:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held the following day, Friday, January 13 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Sybil was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of the late Charlie T. Hill and Marie Galante Hill. She grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated class Valedictorian from Cardinal Newman High School in 1963. Sybil went on to attend the University of South Carolina where she met the love of her life, Tommy (deceased). Sybil had a long career in the insurance industry, retiring shortly after the death of Tommy, from Boyle-Vaughan Insurance.

Embracing retirement, Sybil threw herself into the things she loved the most - supporting Cardinal Newman in a variety of ways, baking for friends, family and strangers, and socializing with her wide circle of friends and family. The debate still rages as to whether her limoncello or orangecello pound cake was better. The almond pound cake remained her go-to. And you can’t mention Sybil’s name without remembering her love of Elvis. She was a superfan from early in Elvis’ career. Sybil made sure her daughters, nieces, sole nephew and grandchildren were well-steeped in all things Elvis. She even took her daughters to Tupelo, Mississippi, to Elvis’ birth home. Sybil established herself as an icon at Cardinal Newman. As the unofficial historian of the school dating back to its early roots as Ursuline High, Sybil gave selflessly and generously of her time, talent and treasure to supporting both the school and its Alumni Association. To this day, her Cardinal Newman blazer hangs proudly on display at the school now on Alpine Road. An excellent cruciverbalist and avid Jeopardy fan, all who knew Sybil also knew not to call at the sacred time of 7:30 when Jeopardy aired. While everyone knew how kind Sybil was to friend and stranger alike, many may not realize mom made cakes annually for the Forest Acres firefighters and police, as well as various cashiers and others with whom her path crossed. These random acts of kindness epitomized Sybil’s sunny outlook on life. The family, especially her daughters, wishes to thank everyone for their prayers and kind wishes for the Sybil we all knew and deeply loved. She will be missed.

Surviving are her daughters, Robin Buckland Foskey, Lt. Col (ret), Sharyn Buckland Garner and their husbands Hugh Foskey and David Garner, grandchildren Jordan Dagny Wolfe, Conan Buckland Lynch, Shelby Jacqueline Lynch, Dustin Foskey, Dylan Foskey, Ashley Garner, Joshua Garner and Brett Garner, sisters, Jeanne Augustin and Charlene Reynolds and their husbands, Jim Augustin and Rick Reynolds, and her favorite grand-dog Charlie.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Thomas L. Buckland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cardinal Newman School. Online donations can be made at cnhs.org under memorials or checks can be made to Cardinal Newman School and mailed to: 2945 Alpine Rd, Columbia, SC 29223.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.