Sylvia "Tippi" Malone

Sylvia Ann Tunstall was born on March 24, 1949 and was the fourth child of Mattie Tunstall. Sylvia was born in Arkansas, but migrated to Hernando, Mississippi a short time after. She and her family moved to Indianapolis, IN in 1951, when she was around 2 years of age.

Sylvia was given the name “Tippi” by her older siblings, as she would walk on her tippy toes when first learning to walk. At an early age, Tippi confessed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and she grew up attending the Church of Christ.

In 1975, Tippi met Homer Malone, Jr. ,who had three daughters: Chantel (Malone) Anderson, Maicel (Malone) Green, and LaCandas (Malone) Fletcher. He also accepted, loved, and raised Tippi’s two girls, Renee (Phillips) Hart and Kimley Davis, as his very own daughters. In January of 1985, Homer took Tippi’s lovely hand in holy matrimony, as she then became Mrs. Malone. As their family continued to grow, together, they welcomed their one and only baby boy, Ronye’ and another baby girl, Tiffanie. They would also raise their first-born granddaughter, India, as their own.

Tippi worked at Central State Hospital for several years until she went into early retirement. She enjoyed being a wife and mom, and looked forward to traveling with her family on summer vacations every year.

Tippi was beloved and confided in by all her children. There wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do for any of them. She would give her last to help her babies, and at times, she would give the last of her last. Just ask any of her children (grands, especially) and they will tell you how those lottery tickets she would provide them would always be accepted right on time. One thing to know about Tippi, she did not like to leave anyone out, and you would often be welcomed by her with gifts and tokens of love.

Tippi knew her way around the kitchen. She would make simple meals have a signature taste. Her macaroni and cheese and cornbread dressing are next to world famous! Although she taught all her daughters her recipes, nobody can do it like her!

God called Tippi home in the early morning of Sunday, September 12, 2021, in the city of Atlanta, GA, where she and Homer have been settled for the past five years. She is proceeded in death by: her sister, Emma Jean Tunstall-Mitchell; brother, Calvin DeWayne Tunstall; her son-in-law, Larry Hart, and sister, Mae Frances Morrow.

Tippi leaves to cherish her memory: her loving and devoted husband of 46 years, Homer Malone, Jr., her mother Mattie D. Johnson-Tunstall, her surviving siblings: Henry “Billy” Tunstall, Betty and Brenda Tunstall, Michael Tunstall (Sabrina), Gabriel Tunstall, Vondetta Miller (James); as well as her legacy, life lessons and intuition will live on through her children: Renee Hart (Larry), Kimley Davis, H. Ronye’ Malone, Tiffanie Nelson (Elijah), Chantel Anderson, Maicel Green, LaCandas Fletcher; her grandchildren: India Ward (Antwon), Javon Cushenberry, Patrice Cushenberry, Channell Mason, Shania Malone, Elijah Nelson, Jr., Caden Nelson, and Avery Nelson; her great grandchildren: Jayden Powells, William Carpenter, Jr., Mich’Kia Cushenberry, Javon Members, Ja’Mya Cushenberry-Coffield, Trinity, Danity Simmons, Dexter Pickett, Jr., and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.