Sylvia Jean Statham

Sylvia Jean Statham passed away December 27, 2025 at the age of 87. She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Herbert Howell and Sylvia Ruth Herring. Sylvia leaves behind sisters, Emily Gist of Pocola, Oklahoma and Mary Sue Burgess of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Surviving are her three daughters, Cynthia R. Potter and Linda M. Statham of Virginia Beach and Donna L. Shepherd (Steve) of Norfolk; her grandchildren, who she loved so much, William B. Beavers (Aden), Thomas A. Potter, III (Michele), Tyler L. Sakis, Casey J. Potter (Gina), Kyle D. Shepherd; and 5 great-grandchildren, Emerson G. Beavers, Charles H. Potter, Luciana B. Potter, Sullivan T. Potter and Blake O. Sakis; in addition to many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Sylvia grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Spiro High School where she met her future husband. They married after high school and he joined the Navy. They were stationed from coast to coast over the years with three little girls in tow by the time they were 22 years old. Their last tour of duty was Virginia Beach.

Sylvia was very involved in the church where she was in the choir and sewed uniforms for the Girl’s Missionary Guild, as well as being an excellent seamstress, she loved Interior Design, gardening and a lover of books until she could no longer read. All of these traits she lovingly passed on to her daughters to which they will be forever grateful.

Once her daughters were in high school, she took a full-time job at Princess Anne Courthouse, General District Court, where she worked her way up to Clerk of Court, where she remained until retirement. Upon retirement, she moved back to Oklahoma to help her two sisters care for their mother. Sylvia then moved back to be with her girls and grandchildren in 2020 much to her family’s delight.

Sylvia had battled courageously with Alzheimer’s Dementia since 2018. We would like to thank the staff at Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital for the love and care of our mother. Sylvia’s family will forever be grateful for their loving kindness.

Rest in eternal peace. You will be forever loved and missed by all those whose lives were touched by you.

A private Memorial Service will be held at Rosewood Kellum Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.