Mary Anna Sylvester

The beautiful Mary Anna Sylvester was born on Monday, July 13th, 1936. In Ferriday, Louisiana to the very proud parents Martha and Clarence Smith. She received her education at Sevier High School in Ferriday, Louisiana.

Mary Anna accepted Christ at a very early age at St.John's Baptist Church. She relocated to Los Angeles, California in the early 1960s where she met and married Mr.Authur Sylvester on January 15, 1964 and from this their union was blessed with seven beautiful children who they raised to be resilient and hard working. Together they continued their walk with Christ at the New Testament Baptist Church under the pastorship of Rev. Robert Hendrickson. She was gainfully employed with toy companies Eldon and Mattel. She also worked at Servicon Commercial Cleaning Company.

In 2005 Mary Anna, her husband Arthur and their family moved to mesquite, Texas where she resided until God called her home on June 18, 2024. Upon arriving in Texas Mary and her husband attended Faith Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor Alonzo Johnson. They later found their home church to worship the lord at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor Reginald Jefferson. There she was the mother of the church and she enjoyed all church events and every Sunday being able to praise God in the house of the Lord. In 2009, her husband Arthur unexpectedly passed away and during this time she had battled and beat breast cancer and was cancer free for 15 years. None of these unfortunate events stopped her from being the amazing Mary Anna we know and love. She started and ended every day with a prayer and a smile.

Mary Anna had one of the most beautiful spirits and souls you will ever meet. “She never met a stranger”. She was blessed to never have to drive her husband and children took her everywhere she needed to go and whenever she wanted to go. She absolutely loved to shop, everyday if she could, decorate and entertain for family functions and birthdays. She was always the best dressed in the room, matching from her hat down to shoes on her feet. She truly enjoyed calling her loved ones to catch up and reminisce on life. She cherished her 7AM talks with her daughter Sandra and her daily talks with Sister Blanche who she called (BaySister) and in return she was called “Guh”. She was a very giving lady and opened her doors to anybody who needed her. She knew how to make you laugh and smile on the best and worst of days.

Mary Anna is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years Mr. Arthur Sysvester, her son Lennie Sr, her mother and father , Martha and Clarence Smith, her grandson Ryan, her sister Napoleon, brothers Myles, Joe and Clarence.

She leaves to cherish the most precious memories of her six beautiful children Robert (Sharon) of San Bernandino, Deborah (Los Angeles,CA), Bobby (Mesquite,TX) Sandra (Forney, TX) Kevin (Lavenia) (Fontana, CA) and Keith Todd (Mesquite, TX).

17 grandchildren, Torya (John) (Forney, TX), Yolanda (Hawthorne, CA), Keisha (Lancaster,CA) Diesha (LA,CA), Tyrone Sr (Keisha) (LA,CA), Tyonne (LA,CA), Jewanda (Lake Charles, LA) Michelle (LA,CA) William (Dallas,TX), Damien (Lancaster,CA) Tyray (Forney, Tx) Lennie (Dallas,TX), Kevin Jr (Houston, TX), Kennadi (Atlanta,GA) Robert (Mesquite,TX) Greagory (Richmond CA) Crenshanda (Dallas), David (LA,CA

The Lord blessed Mary Anna with 33 great-grandkids, and 12 great-great grandkids and she was actively involved in each of every one of their lives and shared beautiful memories with.

She leaves her loving sister Mrs.Blanche (Willie) Brown of Los Angeles,CA, brothers Willie of Denver, CO, Terry (Lula) of Marganza, LA, a adopted Son Herbert (Oliver) of Rockwall,TX, adopted granddaughter Shawana (Marvin) of Mesquite,TX. Two loving, lifetime long friends Carleta Love of Broken, Arrow, OK and David Earl Taylor of Arizona. A host of nieces,nephews and friends

Mary Anna had a very special bond with her niece and nephew Gail Harbor and Darnell Gibson of Long Beach,CA, they had their yearly trips to Ferriday every July. Not to mention the bond she had with her two granddaughters Kennadi Sylvetser and Tea Curtis due to their birthdays all being in the same week so they always celebrated together.