Coach Nathaniel Sylvester Jr.

Mr. Nathaniel Clarence “Coach & Baby Brother” Sylvester, Jr., a native of Mobile, Alabama and longtime resident of Houston, Texas, departed this life on Friday, April 30, 2021 at a local hospital. He was born on Sunday, January 14, 1945 to Nathaniel C. Sylvester, Sr. and Mary Ellen Mitchell Sylvester Miles at Mobile General Hospital in Mobile, AL. Nathaniel attended Central High School where he lettered in football as an All-Citywide Offensive Lineman, served as President of the Frogs Service Club, and Business Manager of his Senior Class of 1963. He accepted a football scholarship from Dillard University, New Orleans, La, and graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History (Secondary education) and a minor in American Government.Nathaniel became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity while at Dillard University. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at Dillard University. In addition, he served as President of the Hambledon Estates Home Owner’s Association for several years.

Coach married Freda Singleton while in Mobile, AL where they were married for 22 years and shared two children. He moved to Houston, Texas, where he began his career in 1970 as a Closed-Circuit Television Instructor and Assistant Football Coach at Texas Southern University. He furthered his career as a Teacher and Assistant Football Coach at G.W. Carver High School, Forest Brook High School, and M.B. Smiley High School. Nathaniel would go on to be promoted as Head Football Coach at M.B. Smiley High School. He retired as a Teacher at C. W. Keahey Elementary in 2008 with 38 years of service in education and administration.

On March 21, 1992, Coach married his wife, Willa Mae Sylvester, loving wife and dedicated caregiver for 29 years. On February 1, 1989, Coach and Willa joined New Life Christian Center under Bishop I.V. and Dr. Bridget Hilliard of Houston, TX and faithfully began serving in the ministry as an usher until his health began to fail.

Coach was known for his charismatic, loving, and encouraging personality. He loved all his students and enjoyed mentoring them. He was a stranger to none, and genuinely enjoyed helping others to recognize their gifts and talents so they could use them. He was raised to always be willing to help others, treat everyone the same. He had a good attitude, he never gave up, and he fought to the end.

On Friday morning, April 30, 2021, the Lord called Nathaniel home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nathaniel and Mary Ellen Sylvester, Stepfather, Willie Miles, his aunt, Rose Mary Allen, and nephew, Cedric Sylvester.

His loving memories will be cherished by his wife, Willa Mae Sylvester, and children, Shannon Sims of New Orleans, LA; Natalie (Harold) Kent of Mobile, AL; Nathaniel C. “Dustie” Sylvester, III of Mitchellville, MD; Joseph “Douggie” Douglas Doucet Jr., Houston, TX; and Althea (Robert) West, Tomball, TX; grandchildren, Enjoli Sims-Theodore and Kaila Sims-Austin of New Orleans, LA; Amber (Anthony) Kimich of Humble, TX; Sydney Sylvester of Richmond, TX, Nia Kent of Mobile, AL; Robert “RJ” West, Jr., and Anasia West, both of Tomball, TX, Joe Castro, Torrence Doucet, Jalon Doucet, Vaughn Doucet, Marsalis Johnson-Doucet, Dillon Vallier, Jaykwon Green, Jabari Doucet, Marquelle Jebert, and the young men of Amaku House, inc. family of Houston, TX; great-grandchildren, Parker, and Wyatt, Kimich; brother, Ralph (Evelyn) Sylvester and sister, Synetta English, all of Mobile, AL; uncle, Herbert Sylvester, Grand Rapid, MI; sisters-in-law, Shirley McZeal, The Woodlands, TX, and Gail Peron, Humble, TX; brother-in-law, Leland Glover of Houston, TX; daughter-in-law, Detra Sylvester; nieces and nephews, Kiearra Mayfield, Canton, GA; Reagan (Henry) Molden of The Woodlands, TX, Margo McZeal of Conroe, TX, Retd. Sgt. Leona Peterson (Jules) of The Woodlands, TX, and Gordon Craig of Daphne, AL; Goddaughters, Miyisha Ferguson, Alicia Green (Nathaniel Miller Jr.) of Houston, TX; longtime friends, Ronald Ayler of New Orleans, LA, Frank Walker of Atlanta, GA; Allen Robinson of Nashville, TN, Charles and Carolyn Brown of College Station, TX; Lemmie and Pat Watson of Houston, TX, Robert “Doc” and Linda Bartlett of Brent, AL, and a host of other family and friends.