Sybil Joyce McCullen was born in Faison, North Carolina, on February 19, 1941, to the late Velma and Cecil McCullen. She spent the first 18 years of her life in Faison supported with love and warmth from her parents and her siblings, Pam Ortiz, and the late Dewey McCullen.
Sybil went on to attend the University of North Carolina where she received a bachelor’s degree in music, majoring in voice and piano. After college, she spent a year working and traveling in Yugoslavia, Croatia, Morocco and Spain. One of her favorite experiences during this time was working in an English Tea Room within sight of the Mediterranean Sea where she spent her days enjoying the village, learning about local customs, and exploring her thoughts in idyllic surroundings.
In addition to music and travel, Sybil’s commitment to Judaism and spirituality was central to her zest for life. The range of her devotion was reflected in her time serving as both president of the Shearith Israel Synagogue Sisterhood and Hadassah in Columbus, Georgia, as well as her commitment to the practice of Mussar, a Jewish spiritual practice which emphasizes ethical living. As Sybil’s close friends and family know, Sybil made it a point to continually educate herself about how to live a meaningful life and support communities near and far, including volunteering with Alzheimer’s patients, distributing food at the Wynton Neighborhood Network in Columbus, and building houses for Habitat for Humanity in Portugal. Her empathy was also frequently demonstrated by the way that she would patiently – and persistently – remind her friends and family that it is okay to give money to those less fortunate rather than just walking past them on the street.
Given her varied pursuits, compassion for others, and leadership in her community, her closest friends often referred to her as “Super Sybil.” She will also always be remembered for her free spirit, infectious laugh, angelic singing voice, unfiltered opinions, incredible challahs, love of cosmopolitans, and hugs so tight and full of love that you never wanted to let go. Sybil is survived by her devoted husband of 35 years, Hal, her beloved sons, Saul (Brandi), Jason (Jennifer), and Ben (Barbara), and her cherished grandchildren, Anne, Matthew, Cullen, Judah, Mabel, and Nava.
In lieu of flowers, please send any donations in memory of Sybil to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/donate).
