Anne Jeanette Sylvestre

Jeanne Sylvestre was born in Belize, the former British Honduras, on April 23, 1942, and was the seventh generation to be raised there in her family home. She died in Mobile, Alabama on April 14, 2018. She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis Maurice and Joan Denbigh Sylvestre, her sister, Dr. Diane Sylvestre, and her brother Mr. Lawrence Minto Sylvestre. She loved her dogs, Skamp and Bianca, and her cat, Cat. Jeanne was a graduate of the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and an MBA in accounting. She received her Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Georgia. She served as a Professor of Accounting at the University of South Alabama and as Chair of the Department of Accounting. After retiring, she held the rank of Professor Emeritus. Jeanne was the first undergraduate alumna to return to teach in the Mitchell College of Business. She was named one of the 50 outstanding faculty members in the 50-year history of the University of South Alabama, as selected by the University’s Faculty Senate. She was a long-time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, a long-time member of the Board of the University of South Alabama Foundation and served as its Treasurer and was an officer of the Order of St John.

Jeanne established the Dr. Jeanne Sylvestre Endowed Scholarship in Accounting and provided legacy gifts for the Dr. Jeanne Sylvestre Endowed Chair of Accounting and a Sylvestre Endowed Chair of Music, in the University of South Alabama Foundation.

Jeanne was a remarkable and memorable professor, an avid traveler and reader and a lover of music, especially Chopin. Her friendship to many is legendary, and she mentored a multitude of accounting students in the Department of Accounting.

Friends will be received in celebration of the life of Jeanne Sylvestre in the Parish Hall at St. Paul’s Church from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, followed by a service at 1:00 p.m. in St. Paul’s Church, with interment in Old Springhill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Jeanne would wish donations to be made to the Dr. Jeanne Sylvestre Endowed Scholarship in Accounting, University of South Alabama Foundation, 211 North Conception Street, Mobile, Alabama 36603, to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 4051 Old Shell Road, Mobile, Alabama 36608 or the Mobile Chapter of the SPCA, 620 Zeigler Circle West, Mobile, Alabama 36608. Pallbearers will be Travis Adcock, Robert Hope, Forbes Kilborn, Ernest Ladd, Robert McGinley, M.D., Basil McNeely, Brad Roberts, Ron Snider. Honorary pallbearer: Don Wisthuff.