Sylvia was one of seven children, she was born to humble beginnings on December 17, 1939 in Lamesa, Texas to Louie and Adith (Holt) Bradshaw. As a child and teenager, she learned the value of hard work and perseverance by picking cotton with her brothers and sisters in the hot West Texas sun.
Sylvia married the love of her life, Gerald “Pete” Carter on March 8, 1957. They both enjoyed watching sports games so much that they spent their honeymoon in Austin, Texas attending the Texas State Boys High School Basketball Championships. They instilled this love as well as their fierce competitive spirit in their three sons, Marcus, and twins Merlin “Lane” and Marlin, who all played sports growing up.
Sylvia held several jobs throughout her life, and was most proud of her 20+ years working as an Optician as she loved to help people. She loved helping people so much, she did not retire until the age of 70. Up until her cancer diagnosis late last summer, she remained active and enjoyed picking her granddaughter Payton up from school and spending time with her family. Rarely could you ever catch her sitting still, it just wasn’t in her nature.
Sylvia was preceded in death by Pete in 1990 after 33 years of marriage. She spent the next 28 years devotedly tending to his grave and never missed placing flowers on it for his birthday, Father’s Day and Christmas. Although she could no longer walk due to her illness, this past Christmas Day she was pushed in a wheelchair by her family to Pete’s grave one last time so she could place a Christmas Tree on it.
Sylvia was also preceded in death by her three brothers Ray Bradshaw, Wayne Bradshaw and Arlan Bradshaw; and three sisters Gaye Anderson, Faye Hamner, and Cynthia Watts. She is survived by her three sons Marcus Carter and his wife Rhonda, Lane Carter, and Marlin Carter and his wife Angela. She is also survived by four grandchildren Kimberly (Carter) Donovan, Kaycee Carter, Kyle Carter, and Payton Carter; and has two great grandchildren, Matthew and Miles Carter.
Her son Lane, lovingly cared for her for the last 8 years of her life, and tended to her daily needs as her illness progressed. The family gives him and everyone else who cared for her their greatest gratitude.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, March 31st a 1 PM at Moore and Sons Funeral Home located at 4216 S Bowen Road, Arlington, Texas 76016.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted…”
Matthew 5:4
