Sylvia Hollis Harrison

Born on October 24, 1942, Sylvia Hollis Harrison entered the world on a kitchen table in a log cabin in the country in Newton, Alabama, to her parents, Merle and Jack Hollis. Sylvia arrived at a champion weight of 10 pounds and was the firstborn of two daughters. She lived a life marked by her natural beauty, extraordinary creativity, fun and witty personality, and devotion to her family, friends, and community.

Sylvia attended Wicksburg High School, where she was not only crowned Homecoming Queen but also went on to become the National Peanut Festival Queen. She later attended Auburn University and eventually settled in Atlanta.

Sylvia met Charlie on a blind date in 1978, and they married in 1980. Together, they shared a wonderful life filled with countless memories, including golf, renovating houses, and many beloved cats along the way.

In 1996, after moving from Atlanta Country Club to East Lake, they took on the ambitious challenge of restoring "Meadow Nook", Atlanta’s oldest historic house. Completed in 1856 as a wedding gift from Colonel Alston to his new bride, the house reflected his belief that the war would never come to Atlanta. "Meadow Nook" became their lifelong home and the heart of their social lives, creating the setting for countless lasting memories with family and friends.

During their years in East Lake, Sylvia and Charlie also took on the remarkable task of renovating more than 50 houses, many of which were previously condemned or abandoned. Their dedication and vision played an important role in the rebirth of the East Lake community.

Sylvia is lovingly remembered by her son, Robert “Trey” Clark Rudder III (Andrea); granddaughters Jennifer Geeker (Thomas) and Sarah Rudder; sister Sandra Hollis Kellner; niece Leigh Rudder Dobbs (Willis); nephew Jared Paul (Kelley); great-nephews Jack Dobbs and Hollis Dobbs; and great-grandsons Clark Geeker and Peter Wickliffe “Wick” Geeker.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 45 years, Charles Wickliffe Harrison; her parents, Merle and Jack Hollis; her brother-in-law, Father James “Jim” Harrison; and her stepdaughters, Cary Cox Harrison, Helen Michael Harrison, and Molly Harrison Smith.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Friday, November 20, at 11:00 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. All who knew and loved Sylvia and Charlie are warmly invited to join in honoring her life and celebrating a life so wonderfully lived.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Charles W. Harrison Scholarship Fund: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/eastlakefoundationsupport

The family extends heartfelt thanks to those who cared for and supported Sylvia in her later years especially: Marie Sajous, Raymonde (Rae), Darrell Hardeman, and Harry Hampton. Their kindness and devotion will always be remembered with gratitude.

May she rest in peace and be remembered always with love and gratitude.