Sylvia Hyler Melson was freed from her earthly body and passed quietly at her home to join her heavenly father on Thursday, February 19, 2015. She had been in declining health the past six months.

She was born Sylvia Ann Hyler on May 14, 1930, in Caswell County, North Carolina to the late Katheryn Wall and Grief Jones Hyler. Sylvia lived her life around the Danville, Virginia area mostly in the Brosville community. She was a graduate of Brosville High School and a long time member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church where she served in many capacities over the years including adult Sunday School teacher. Sylvia had also served as a Den Mother for a Cub Scout pack in Danville in the mid 1960s. She liked to work in small gardens and especially her tomato plants and flowers. She often helped others however she could.

Sylvia had been employed in the textile industry for many years including the Danville Knitting Mills and later at Lacy Manufacturing Corp in Martinsville. She remained at Lacy Manufacturing as it became Pannill Knitting Company and later Sara Lee Knit Products until her retirement. Sylvia also had worked for various hair dressers in the Danville and Axton areas.

She is survived by son John Andrew Sadler and wife Patricia of Chapin, SC; two grandchildren, Nancy Keturah Sadowski and husband Joseph “Jeff” of Springville, CA and Stefka Mae Sadler of Chapin, SC; and one great grandchild Dawson Augustus Sadowski also of Springville, CA. She is also survived by one niece JoAnn Morrison and husband Douglas of Cascade, VA. There are also a number of nieces and nephews as well as step children and step nieces and nephews surviving.

Sylvia was preceded in death by two sisters, Stewart Hyler and Louise Hyler Washington, a brother-in-law Jerome Washington, a nephew Michael Thomas Washington and a niece Mary Katheryn Dunkley. She was predeceased by three husbands; Robert Arthur Sadler, Jr., Grover Landon Minter and Joseph “Hank” Melson.

A celebration of her life and homegoing will be held at the Bethlehem Baptist Church at 2333 Whispering Pines Road, Danville, VA at 2 PM on Sunday, February 22, 2015. The service will be conducted by the Rev. J.B. Baldridge and Rev. Daniel Lackey. The family will meet with those wishing to express condolences at the church after the service or at other times at the home of JoAnn and Douglas Morrison, 508 May Hardy Road, Cascade, VA. A private interment will follow at a later date in Highland Burial Park.

Although Sylvia’s love of flowers was well known, the family respectfully requests that any memorial donations be made to Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2333 Whispering Pines Road, Danville, VA 24541.

The family especially wishes to gratefully acknowledge those caregivers and friends that assisted Sylvia during her final months especially long time friend Shirley Williamson.

Swicegood Funeral Service is respectfully serving the Melson family. 

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