The family of Sylvia Lynch Morris announces with deepest sorrow that their matriarch, as well as the family's heart and soul, has passed away at the age of 91 on September 19, 2023, after an extended stay in the ICU at the Dignity Health Methodist Hospital of Sacramento.

Known for her beaming smile, twinkling eyes, generosity and warmth, Sylvia was born in Philadelphia, PA during the throes of the Depression on August 12, 1932 to Frederick A. Lynch and Emma Gary Lynch.  The sixth of their seven children, Sylvia had the genetic eyelid ailment, ptosis aka "droopy eyelid." Though she would eventually have corrective surgery to improve her vision—and showcase her twinkling eyes—it never stopped her infinite joyfulness that continued throughout her life.

She attended Philadelphia's famed Overbrook High School, whose alumni standouts include:  NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain (whom she knew); renowned artist Jacob Landau; Grammy and Oscar-winning star, Will Smith and Emmy winner, Colmon Domingo. A Class of 1950 member, Sylvia was not only strong academically, but was also an athlete on the Overbrook women's teams for tennis, basketball, volleyball and swimming, as well as its bowling, archery and modern dance teams.

Aside from an engaged high school life, Overbrook also led to Sylvia's eventual engagement to Emanuel "Jack" Morris, Jr., where they met as schoolmates. The high school sweethearts married in 1954, after Jack returned from joining the Air Force and fighting in the Korean War.  Meanwhile, Sylvia was an office staffer at SKF Industries, launching a diverse work life that over the years often took pauses upon moving with Jack and their four children—Emanuel "Ricky" III, Joanne, Jackie and Dale—to military assignments in Anchorage, Alaska; Greensboro, North Carolina; Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada and finally to California's Travis AFB, where Jack would eventually retire from the Air Force, and move the family to a home in nearby Vacaville.

During her time as a military spouse, Sylvia was very active in the NCO (Non-commissioned Officers) Wives Clubs at Jack's different assignments, serving in various capacities, including as president. In fact, among the number of awards and accommodations she received throughout her life, one of her proudest was being nominated to represent Goose Bay AFB in the national Military Wife of the Year contest.

Sylvia's civic and community endeavors are not really a surprise, because her mother, Emma, was an officer in the Philadelphia Chapter of the historic Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters union. Therefore, exposing Sylvia to the importance of pursuing uplifting ventures—something Sylvia also passed on to her own children. For instance, her late daughter, Jackie Morris-Henderson was a founder of Sac State's Black Alumni Association; her daughter, Joanne was an intern for Coretta Scott King; her son, Dale, now based in Philadelphia, has been a donor and volunteer for state and national elections; and her late son, Ricky was involved in his collegiate student government and was an election campaign volunteer as an adult.  In addition, Sylvia was a perennial participant in her children's activities from organizing school fundraisers to the PTA to being a booster, among many things.  But she didn't stop as they graduated from high school, she continued as they became college alumni, including her being a fixture and volunteer at Jackie's Sac State alumni activities, and Joanne's activities at USC, her undergraduate alma mater.

Speaking of colleges, while Sylvia took courses, she didn't have an opportunity to complete a post-secondary degree due to Jack's military assignments. However, she's the proud mom of four post-secondary degree holders, including Jackie having an MBA from USF, Joanne a J.D. from UCLA, and Dale earning two degrees in Urban Planning from Virginia State University, and Civil Engineering from Temple University.

Sylvia was also an artist, which wouldn't be unexpected from the granddaughter of William Gary, early 20th Century Philadelphia Black entrepreneur and co-owner of the esteemed painting/interior decorating company, Gary Bros. However, she put her artistic aspirations aside to raise her children, and would paint occasionally, while engaging in arts & crafts and sewing, as well as bringing her creative flair to her crowd-pleasing baking.  That aside, at 73 she had one of her last paintings included in a special Los Angeles-area art exhibit commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Emmett Till's death.

A faithful Catholic from a multi-generation lineage, Sylvia was involved in church activities from her youth in Philadelphia's archdiocese to Jackie and Dale respectively attending St. Vincent's and St. Patrick's in Vallejo to her donating her food baskets to various churches in the Diocese of Sacramento.  Also, during 1979 while in Philadelphia to visit her mother, Emma, Sylvia had an opportunity that's rare for American Catholics, and that's seeing a pope in person on U.S. soil—which she was blessed to do, as Pope John Paul II took an open car motorcade around the city...

In addition to her parents, her son, Ricky and her daughter, Jackie, Sylvia joins her sibling angels, Marion "Cupie" Lynch Davis; Phyllis Lynch Rodgers; twins, Lorraine Lynch Portee and Loretta Lynch; Frederick Lynch, Jr. and Walter Lynch, as well as a host of other family, in-laws and friends, including her niece, Regina Davis Wooding. Sylvia's survived by Jack; two of their children, Joanne and Dale; daughter-in-law Crystal Butler-Morris; grandsons, Julian and Spencer; first cousins Yvonne Lynch Dunn; Cynthia Royster; Sheila Royster Carrington; Marcia Royster; as well as nieces and nephews: Tanya Lynch Lone; Claudette Davis Boyd; Thomas "Teddy" Davis, Jr.; Warren Davis; Kim Lynch; Fredrick Lynch III, Tina Lynch and Debra Sims.  Sylvia is also survived by extended family that includes second cousins, grand-nieces/nephews and great-grand-nieces/nephews, in addition to those friends of her four children that she was proudly a "second mom" to…

The services for Sylvia will be held this Thursday, October 12, 2023 with a viewing at 11 am, followed by an 11:30 am funeral mass at Good Shepherd Catholic Church at 9539 Racquet Court, Elk Grove, CA 95758, (916) 684-5722. Arrangements are being handled by Ramsey Wallace Funeral Home & Chapel, Inc., (916) 891-0500.

Due to her staunch support of education, the family is establishing a scholarship fund in Sylvia's memory that will be open to incoming freshmen or transfer students majoring in the arts, education or the health sciences, and attending either American River College, Lincoln University, Sac State, Temple University, UCLA, University of San Francisco or University of Southern California.  Details will follow on how to donate.

For all who knew her, Sylvia will be truly missed, but her sunshine and light will live on… In fact, her family asks that you honor Sylvia's legacy by staying engaged in civic and community affairs, as well as being kind and thoughtful to those you meet…  Meanwhile, we know that Sylvia is lighting up Heaven with that smile and twinkle in her eye…