Sylvesta Adams

Sylvesta attended school in West Palm Beach, Florida and graduated from Industrial High School in 1950. Although Sylvesta received a partial college scholarship, he chose to join the United States Navy in order to help his grandmother. While in the Navy, he served as a seaman in the medical corps until he separated in 1954 and joined the U.S. Air Force. Sylvesta continued his service to his country until his honorable discharge in 1970. During his Air Force career, he was awarded several medals and Commendations, including the Vietnam Service Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Award. He was recognized upon his retirement for his skills as a computer programmer.

After his retirement from the military Sylvesta continued his government service with the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 1992. Never one to remain idle, Sylvesta took photography and computer classes and traveled the world He eventually moved from Denver, Colorado to West Palm Beach to be closer to family and to enjoy the warm weather after so many years of delivering mail during harsh Colorado winters. He rekindled old friendships and made new friends when he started attending senior events at Payne Chapel and St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. He looked forward to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays when he could visit with friends at what he affectionately called, “senior day care”. He was an avid card and dominoes player. He could often be found at a table with friends, talking trash and taking names. Of course, this was only after prayer, lunch and Bible Study.

Sylvesta loved music of every genre. Anyone who knew him had a hard time matching his knowledge of music and his expansive musical collection. Unless you knew him, Sylvesta was a quiet, unassuming and extremely intelligent man who could hold a conversation about numerous subjects, including politics, current events, sports and even mundane television shows. He loved sports and watched every sport imaginable. His favorite team was the Denver Broncos and he had no problem cheering for them even though he lived in Florida and was surrounded by people who loved “that other team”. He was especially vocal when he was with his friend “Jack”.

Sylvesta also loved to travel and had an opportunity to visit many foreign countries and most of the United States. He never met a person he didn’t like and made friends everywhere he went. He was a loyal and caring friend who loved to laugh and was never too tired to listen or talk. He gave often, never expecting anything in return. He was a true gentleman and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Sylvesta was preceded in death by his grandmother, Hattie B. Adams; mother, Doretha Sanders; brothers L.B. Sanders and Robert Earl Sanders; sisters, Verdell Wright, Sharolyn Elease Leblanc, Ruthie Mae Sanders and Gwendolyn Fromm; and grandson, Kyle Miller.

Sylvesta will be missed every day by his daughters, Karen Hunter and Terrye Davis; son-in-law Osby Davis; granddaughters, Stephanie Owens (DaRon), Makita Dillas-Williams (Robert), LaToya LeFlore, adopted daughters, Kelly Brown and Denise Lyons along with a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.