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Sybil Thurman Sills met Jesus face-to-face on Friday, July 10, 2026. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at New Hebron Baptist Church with Dr. Will McNeese and Bro. Mike Grenn officiating. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Magee has been entrusted with arrangements.
Syb was born on March 7, 1938, to Burnis Alvin “Bully” Thurman and Edna Earl “Nell” Berry Thurman. She married the love of her life, James Albert Sills, in 1955. Together they welcomed two children, Mike and Sara, and soon made their home in Gulfport, where Syb began a career with Coast Electric Power Association. She eventually became the Office Manager for the Gulfport office.
Syb’s work ethic was unparalleled. She treasured the linemen she worked alongside and loved sharing stories with her family about the many hurricanes she experienced during her years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. During their time there, the Sills family became deeply rooted in the Gulfport community. Syb later welcomed her daughter-in-law, Tammy, and was overjoyed by the arrival of her two granddaughters, Jamie and Katie. They were “her girls,” and she loved them with every fiber of her being.
Following her retirement in 2000, Syb returned home to New Hebron, where she spent the next 26 years rarely sitting still. No one could count the number of pans of her famous macaroni and cheese and sweet potato casserole that she lovingly prepared and delivered to friends, neighbors, and anyone in need. She found joy in serving others and treasured every opportunity to spend time with her family, whether cooking, working in the yard, or tending to her flowers.
When her great-grandson, Nate, was born, he quickly stole the top spot in her heart, and Caden Ruth soon joined him there. Family was everything to Syb, and that love extended beyond relatives to her cherished church family at New Hebron Baptist Church. Her steadfast faith guided her life, and she leaves behind a legacy of service, generosity, and unwavering love.
Syb was preceded in death by her parents, Bully and Nell Thurman; her beloved husband, James A. Sills; and her brothers, Ed and Elmer Thurman.
She is survived by her son, Mike Sills (Tammy) of New Hebron; her daughter, Sara Sills of Mobile, Alabama; her granddaughters, Jamie Magee (Jake) of Madison and Katie McNeese (Will) of New Hebron; her treasured great-grandchildren, Nate and Caden Ruth McNeese of New Hebron; and her best friend of 81 years, Frankie Little of New Hebron.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the New Hebron Baptist Church Building Fund in Syb’s memory.
The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Deaconess Home Health and Hospice of Brookhaven for the compassionate care they provided during Syb’s final days.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com
MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi
