Sylvia Tolbert

Sylvia Marlene Savage Tolbert, age 79, of the Old Bethel Community passed away Sunday, October 6th at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.

Mrs. Tolbert was born May 4, 1934, the only child of Refery Lige and Ona Mae Simmons Savage In Quebeck. She attended the Doyle Church of the Nazarene, where her grandparents, Clint and Bertha Savage, were charter members.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 48 years, William Lee (Bill) Tolbert. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Lee Tolbert Hambrick, and son-in-law, Benny Walton Hambrick, as well as her husband of four months and six days, Alvin Dwayne Tindell. Survivors also include many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She worked in the garment manufacturing industry beginning in 1954 at the original Sparta Shirt Factory in the Pressing Department, was promoted to the Patterns Department, and completed her service there in office administration. Afterwards, she began work with her cousin, George Savage, for many years as Office Manager at Spartan Industries until it closed in 1970. Her final position prior to retirement was Office Manager with Sutton Manufacturing, where she worked with Mr. Robert Hale, Plant Manager, until that facility closed in 1992. She took early retirement at that time to be home with her mother and husband. She loved traveling, attending gospel singings, an enjoyed lively music, as attested by her participation in a high school band, "The Hillbilly Band", in which she played guitar.

Her most shining achievement, in the eyes of her family and closest friends, was the diligent care she took of her mother, Ona Mae Simmons Savage, which lasted for many years, while her mother was still at home, as well as after her mother was confined to a local nursing home. She and her husband, Bill, shared this care until he passed away in March of 1998. Her family was her delight in life, and she deeply loved her friends, her neighbors, and her longtime co-workers.

Visitation is scheduled from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8th at Thurman Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of Thurman Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 9th at 1 p.m. with Pastors Tracy Curtiss, Brian Simmons, and Ray Savage officiating. Burial will follow at the Skurlock Cemetery in the Old Bethel Community. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Doyle Church of Nazarene immediately following burial. Pallbearers will be Glenn Fisher, James Dillon Pettit, Kenny Quarles, Mike Leeds, Donald Manus, and Jimmy Savage. Honorary pallbearers are Glynn Smith, George Savage, Nathan Horton, and Brian Simmons.

Please sign the guestbook at www.thurmanfuneral.com

Thurman Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.