Sylvia C. MacMillan

Sylvia Copley (Sunshine) MacMillan passed away peacefully on February 2, 2021 at Beacon Place after a short illness. She was born on September 12, 1937 in South Hill, VA to John Walker Copley and Hazel Holloway Copley. She was predeceased by siblings Jane Copley Hoffman of Tarpon Springs FL, Eva (Ebie) Copley Haslup of St Petersburg, FL and John Walker Copley, Jr. of Spartanburg, SC and survived by sister JoAnn Copley Smith of South Hill, VA.

Moving to Oley, PA at an early age, she graduated from Oley High School in 1955, came south to Madison College in Harrisonburg Va. before transferring to Johnston-Willis School of Nursing in Richmond. After receiving her RN degree, she taught nursing at Johnstone-Willis before marrying the late Dr. William S. Dawson, Jr. and is survived by their children William S Dawson, III (Heidi), John S. Dawson (Cindy) and Mary Dawson Guin (Mike). In 1978 Sunshine married George J. (Skip) MacMillan and is survived by Skip and his three children George J. (Jim) MacMillan, Jr., Hope MacMillan Baker (late husband Mike) and Paul K. MacMillan (Beth) . Together they have 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. One grandson, Walker Dawson, predeceased her.

After receiving a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from East Carolina University, she began a career in Adult Services at Pitt County Mental Health Department. During a stay in New York City, she volunteered, and then was employed, at Fountain House, dedicated to mental health. Returning to North Carolina she continued her work in mental health and retired in 1999 as Director of Adult Services at Randolph County Mental Health Department.

Volunteering was an important part of Sunshine's life and included Stephen Ministry and Chaplain at First Lutheran Church Greensboro, the Red Cross in New Orleans after the Katrina disaster working with first responders, several years with Greensboro's Adult Center for Enrichment, and co-chaired the Hospitality Committee at Well-Spring. She loved music and sang and played the piano with Church Choirs, and played the cello in the Oley High orchestra and the piccolo in the marching band.

In a quiet way Sunshine had a gentle spirit, a love and interest of people, the ability to listen and express empathy, and a quick dry wit. She loved to lunch or dine quietly with a couple of friends and a glass of wine. With their immediate and large extended families, and loving friends, Skip and Sunshine had a wonderful, fun filled, life together. Loving to travel, they took memorable trips abroad and in America, not to mention long trips to the beach. She was known by family, friends - and Skip's clients - for her chocolate chip cookies and pound cakes. She had an artistic flair - that she called "just doodling" - and created a delightful array of drawings for Christmas cards and floral drawings for birthday and greeting cards for friends and family.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Beacon Place and many friends for their loving care. A private interment service will be held at First Lutheran Church and a memorial celebration of life will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Interactive Resource Center, 407 E. Washington St., Greensboro, 27401, First Lutheran Church, 3600 Friendly Ave, Greensboro, 27410, or Well-Spring Retirement Community, 4100 Well Spring Dr., Greensboro, 27410

Online condolence may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnelm.com Hanes Lineberry N. Elm Chapel is assisting the MacMillan family.