“I then shall live, what a powerful song,” Yvonne said, “I want that song played at my life celebration.” The lyrics of this song really illuminate the Gospel message and how we should live our lives. Yvonne indeed exemplified those lyrics all seventy-three years of her life.
In Lancaster, Pennsylvania on the fifth of November 1945, in Lancaster General Hospital, Yvonne Marie Burross was born to Zigh Naples Burross and Estella Mariah Louisa Burross. She was their third child and the baby. Her older siblings were Lewis Zigh and Mary Louise. Yvonne often recounted stories of their childhood and teenage years with great love and nostalgia.
She attended York College and worked for RCA where she met her best friend and love of her life Claude Edward Sawyer. Rooted in friendship, their love grew and they married June 6, 1967 in Lancaster, PA. On January 23, 1972, Yvonne and Claude would welcome their first child, Kyla Marie and two years later on July 15, 1974, Claude Edward, (Jr.) was born. While living in Binghamton, NY, Yvonne worked at IBM. Claude and Yvonne were active in the Urban League, a civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. The Sawyer family moved to Canton, Michigan, where they lived for four years. Because of a new vocational opportunity for Claude, the family then moved to Antioch, TN where Yvonne continued to work at IBM. In 1994, Yvonne and Claude became grandparents to Michael James and they spent many weekends loving on their new grandson. She would be known as Nana and Claude was Pop-Pop. Her second grandchild, Kharis Josiah, was born and he was followed by Ziva, Claude Ephraim and Zy. Yvonne retired early from IBM and started working at BMI, a music royalties company, for the CFO and then for the COO. She retired from BMI when she learned that she had Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. She fought cancer with faith, prayer, support, knowledge, and courage—a warrior. She went to be with Jesus on May 19, 2019 at the age of 73. Her spiritual walk was unquestioned, faith unshaken, love for the Lord overflowing, so much so it poured out to whomever was fortunate
enough to share company with her. Her legacy will be carried on by her two children, Kyla Marie and Claude Edward, along with spouses Shaun and Shelby, and her five grandchildren, Michael, Kharis, Ziva, Ephraim, and Zy. She is survived by her loving siblings Lewis Zigh Burross and Mary Louise Jordan, a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, family and friends.
Her celebration of life services will be held as follows:
Memorial Celebration of Life: Durham, North Carolina: King’s Park International Church, 1305 Odyssey Dr, Durham, NC 27713 Friday, May 24th at 3 PM (Visitation) and 3:45 PM (Service). Officiant: Pastor Reggie Roberson
Life Celebration: Brentwood, Tennessee: Bethel World Outreach Center, 5670 Granny White Pk., Brentwood, TN 37027, Tuesday May 28th with visitation from 9 AM to 11AM and service following at 11:15AM. Committal Service at Greenwood Cemetery, Taylor Circle, 1428 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37210. Officiant: Pastor Ray W. McCollum
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations to the MMRF (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) in her name – Yvonne Marie Sawyer: https://tribute.themmrf.org/YvonneSawyer
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