Doris Jones Sydnor

Doris Jones Sydnor began her life’s journey on Sunday, November 6, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan. She was one of two children (brother Nelson) from the union of Nelson Sr. and Gwendolyn Jones. Gwendolyn’s sister, Rosana and Ceville Davis were her aunt and uncle. Her grandparents were Stonewall and Anna Whitworth on her mother’s side and Louis and Dora Jones on her father’s side. Doris grew up in Southwest and Northwest Detroit. Close childhood family and friends included cousin Carolyn (Sherrell) Rowland, Louise and Diane Anderson, Denise Quarles.

Doris graduated from Pershing High School in 1967, receiving an academic diploma. She completed courses from several educational institutions including Wayne State University, the University of Pittsburgh, George Washington University and George Mason University. She received a Batchelor of Fine Arts Degree from Howard University in 1994, after majoring in Jazz Music Studies for voice and piano. She was featured in the 1991 – 1992 National Dean’s List (Award of Merit).

Doris was very athletic as she played several competitive sports including field hockey, softball, racquetball and basketball. She was also an avid roller skater, swimmer and trail bike rider. Brisk walks for several miles through the neighborhood were often part of her daily routine. She competed for and was awarded her Isshinyryu Karate Black Belt after years of study.

Doris began her career as a Flight Attendant in 1972 after completing the US Airways training course. She flew domestically throughout the United States and internationally through central Europe from bases in Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington D.C, often serving as the lead cabin crew member. She retired in 2004 after 32 years of service.

Thomas and Doris first met in 1984 in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. They were married in Alexandria, Virginia in 1988 in a small ceremony of immediate family.

Doris used her Real Estate license to find a beautiful home for Thomas and herself in Tampa, Florida in a wonderful community. She felt safe and comfortable among outstanding neighbors who have shown an outpouring of love and the true neighborly spirit.

Doris had multiple and varied interests and hobbies. She loved to cook from established recipes as well as her own. Her meals were always tasty and aromatic. She turned her love for teas into a business that she named Courney’s Sea Of Dreams where she sold international teas for blending from a store front location in Tampa Florida. She met many wonderful regular customers including Robert Shapiro (Alicia), Adam Hough and Robert Hernandez.

Doris honed her vocal skills through music courses at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa (now Straz Center). During this period, she participated in performances that presented choral singing of Jazz tunes to the public. She developed lasting friendships with Kwisa Davis (Johnel) and Terry Edwards (Josephine).

She enjoyed playing Mah Jongg at weekly circulating home gatherings with several friends, Joan Zacharias (Tom), Anna Egelfeld (Jerry) and Roberta Hyde (Steve).

She became the vocalist member of Terry’s Latin Jazz Band which performed throughout Tampa. Doris performed with the stage name “Courtney West”. Her instruments included the Spanish maracas as well as her melodious voice. She built a home electronic music studio where she sang and played the piano whenever she felt the inspiration. She composed several of her own songs.

Cancer claimed her life on January 9, 2026. Doris leaves to mourn, her forever loving husband of 38 years, Thomas Sydnor, her brother Nelson, her nieces Celina Haile, Kristine Brown, Jarah Jones, Sharae Reeves, Alisha Lenoir, Joy Lenoir, Le’Ba Johnson, Eboni Brown and Javonna Brown, her sisters in-law Katherine Stokes and Anna Lenoir, her brothers in-law Tyrone Brown, Jake Brown and James (Lisa) Brown her nephews Christopher (Lydia)Jones, Damon Jones, Derrick Brown, David Reeves, Robert Stokes and Jermaine Stokes as well as a host other family members, neighbors and friends across the country.

Doris loved people fiercely, with no-nonsense, sincerity, high personal standards and integrity. The world has been made a better place from her presence among us. She is missed immeasurably!

A Visitation will be held at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-MacDill Avenue, 605 S MacDill Ave, on January 19, 2026, from 10:00am - 12:00pm, followed by a Funeral Service at 12:00 pm. She will then be laid to rest at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park at 2:00pm.