Sylvia was a role model to me when I was a young(-ish) academic affairs administrator and throughout my career at UGA. Without knowing who she was initially, I watched  at Faculty Senate meetings as she spoke her mind, stood her ground, and took unpopular  positions  if she believed they were right .  Fairly unusual for a woman to do in the 1980s and early 90s.  I listened and learned a great deal from her and she became not only a role model but a mentor and, most importantly, a dear friend. RIP, dear friend. ❤️❤️❤️

Sylvia was a friend, educator and mentor to so many people, including myself. She was a bright light that impacted so many people, and her legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of anyone that ever met. She was one of a kind. A truly beautiful soul.

It was truly a blessing to know and love a person like Dr. Hutchinson. She was caring, steadfast, and most importantly, determined to do everything she could to see her students succeed. The guidance and lessons I learned from her will remain with me for the rest of my life. Pictured is a celebration with Dr. Hutchinson and my parents after my acceptance to medical school, much of which I attribute to the wisdom and advice she gave me along the way.

And last but not least, she got to meet all 3 of my babies and see my mom! We met at the Globe for lunch in May and I’ll cherish this memory for the rest of my life!! I am so happy I got to see her one last time. She loved meeting the kiddos and was so happy for me. She was always my biggest fan even after my basketball days were over. I loved her dearly and I am so grateful to have known her and to have been loved by her.

And here we are in 2021! We met for lunch and she got to meet my firstborn, Wesley. She couldn’t get over him! Such a great memory for me.

Here we are at the same lunch date. She finally got to meet my husband and give her stamp of approval!

In 2004, I stepped onto the UGA campus as a freshman athlete and had no idea what to expect or where to go or even how to catch a campus bus. Dr. Hutchinson was my freshman athlete seminar professor during my first semester at UGA. She took me under her wing and we never looked back. She was an amazing mentor through all 4 years of my college career at Georgia and then remained a life long friend after graduation. She was kind, strong, steady, and full of wisdom. She listened and gave great advice and never hesitated to let me know how much she disliked Coach Landers for yelling at me on the court so much. She never missed a home basketball game and was always in the stands with a big smile on her face cheering me on. She loved the gymdogs and never missed a home meet for them either! We had monthly lunch dates downtown that I’ll cherish forever. I won’t even name the restaurants because that will show my age as a lot of the restaurants we frequented aren’t even there anymore.. haha! I loved her!! And I will miss her so very dearly. This picture is from 2018 when I was coming back from my 1 year wedding anniversary trip with my husband. She wanted to meet Jeff and give her opinion of him. We had lunch and finally got a picture. I don’t have any from my college days because that was pre cell phone cameras. Showing my age again. I loved this lunch date!

To my everlasting good fortune, I met Sylvia Hutchinson soon after returning to UGA in 1997, and like God knows how many others, I was smitten from the start. Ours was to become the kind of friendship that we both knew we could absolutely take for granted almost from the start. As with countless others, Sylvia didn’t just befriend me. She took me, a mere lad of fifty at the time, under her impossibly capacious, accepting, and inexhaustibly nurturing wings, I and relished every minute that I was blessed to spend there. 
I certainly have no words that would begin to do justice to her virtues. She was at once vivacious and charming, unfailingly generous and kind, but outspoken and tough as nails on matters related to preserving the integrity of the university and doing right by the students.
Selfishly, I must admit that, for me, Sylvia’s most endearing trait beyond all other was being the ultimate embodiment of what southerners used to call “good company.” My favorite times with her came at UGA baseball games, where we interspersed our biting critiques of what we saw happening on the field with the kind of “catching up” that all good friends relish so much. I kidded her often about her attachment to sporty cars, which, as a Porshe afficionado, I certainly shared.
Sadly, her beloved “Hutch,” had passed well before I showed up, but her tender references to him, and the joy she took in sharing often funny but always tender anecdotes about him and their times together reminded me what a timeless, death-defying gift a special kind of love between two people can be. 
Sylvia was characteristically self-effacing even at the very end of her life, as she celebrated the blessings that had come to her along the way. Though she doubtless meant every word of it, there’s no escaping bittersweet irony of such words coming from someone who spent so much of her life bringing blessings to the lives of so many others.

Dr. Hutchinson was more than a professor to me. She affectionately accepted me as her academic granddaughter. She was one of my biggest supporters for my journey and desire to practice medicine. Her seminar has guided so many of us and helped us tell our unique stories. She took a special interest in each student and showed extraordinary care for us. You have left an indelible mark on my life and the entire community. You will always be a North Star I look to. Rest on, dear Dr. Hutchinson. I love you so much!

It always felt so special to hang out with Dr. Hutchinson. She was such a cool lady to me. If you know her, you know she was sure to invite you for a lunch date. Many sweet conversations and memories we’ve shared together that I’ll always hold dear. I’ll always love you!

My wife, Professor Emerita Trisha Reeves, and I, both greatly benefited from the guidance and mentoring provided by Dr. Sylvia Hutchinson over three plus decades. She served as a role model and confidant for hundreds and hundreds of students, faculty, and staff at The University of Georgia through the years. Her smile always lit up every space she entered. In my experience, most people can divided into "glass half-full" and "glass half-empty" personalities. But Sylvia was unique as someone with a "glass brimming-over" charisma. She will be greatly missed and long-remembered. 
Tom Reeves, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Learning, Design, and Technology
Mary Frances Early College of Education
The University of Georgia

It is an honor to have been taught and mentored by Dr Hutchinson. Her kindness and positivity were apparent to all. She was a monumental leader at UGA, and her legacy and impact will live on forever. She was passionate about women's leadership, paving the way for myself and many others. My biggest role model, I can only hope to become half the woman she was. I will always cherish our bond; I love her deeply and will miss her every day.  May she rest in eternal peace.

I am beyond blessed to have had Dr Hutchinson in my life. I was her student in her pre-med seminar course 4 years ago and then her TA a year later. Beyond that, she was my closest mentor, friend and even more so, like a grandmother to me. She was intelligent, bold, and loved others so well. She was so hard-working, graceful and strong. She cared more about her students and relationships with others than anyone I've ever known. She played a large part in my college experiences, encouraging me in leadership roles and later influencing my acceptance into medical school. I will strive to advocate and care for my future patients just as she taught me, and I pray she is with me in my heart and mind every step of the way.

Dr. H was the best mentor any Dawg could have asked for. She taught so many students during her almost half a century at UGA. I am devastated by her loss, but I am heartened that she taught me—and so many others—so much.

Sylvia and I earned our doctorates at UGA during the latter half of the 1970s.  One could not have a dearer friend. She was much like an older sister to me. Her smile, warmth, compassion, kindness and generosity were blessings, not only to me, but to so many in the Athens community then and during all the years since then. She loved teaching and helping students and she positively affected numerous lives through her mentoring, knowledge and inspiration.  Her influence will long be remembered and felt at UGA. I loved her dearly.

My deepest sympathy goes to the family of Sylvia Hutchinson and to all who  knew and loved her. I cherish the memories that I have of her, during the 1990s when I was a young faculty member and when she took me under her wing. She gave me moral support, advice and strength, and she was a fine role model and mentor . We shared friendship . I made her a baby blanket for her very first grandchild . I always regarded Sylvia as a strong woman, a fine academic and teacher, a warm-hearted soul, and over all a Lady.  Dr. Diane Brook Napier

Rest in peace, Dr. Hutchinson and condolences to your loved ones.  You shone the light of kindness and learning, showing the way for generations.  It was an honor to have known and worked with you at UGA.  

Ron Braxley

What a bright light she was. ALWAYS smiling and so kind to everyone she came in contact with. Praying for her family and friends.

Slyvia was always surrounded by wonderful people. And she always made an effort to bring people together to celebrate the accomplishments of women. UGA was so lucky to have a role model, mentor and good soul that she was. Always generous and always tough when it came to doing the right thing.

No one had as much energy or style as Sylvia. Whatever she was doing she did it well. Always kind, intelligent and beautiful. She taught so many of us what good leadership was all about.

I am lucky enough to have been one of Dr. Hutchinson’s students. She taught my freshman year seminar course back in 2008, and was an incredible mentor to me ever since. I will always be grateful that I had the chance to learn from her and that she helped me fall in love with UGA. She was one of a kind and I will miss her everyday. 

Sincerely,
Mel Baxter

Visited with her only once, but an instant friendship was born. Truly, an amazing woman and a role model for all!

It is with deep sadness to learn of the loss of Dr. Hutchinson.  It is difficult to imagine a more delightful and entertaining dinner companion.  My condolences.  Sincerely, Edward Chin

I am so very sad to learn of Sylvia’s passing. Who can think of her without having it bring a smile?  I knew her at UGA for years. As faculty members in a range of committees together, we fought many a battle together for expanded inclusion because we understood the benefit to the students. Sylvia was truly one of a kind. I am comforted that I have such great memories I can call on. To her family and friends, my very deepest and most sincere condolences on your loss. 
Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander

OBITUARY

Dr. Sylvia McCoy Hutchinson

August 9, 1938 – August 15, 2026

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Services

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