Victor Brown Sydnor, 84, of Raleigh died peacefully on Friday, February 27, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Oxford, Mississippi on December 1, 1930, the son of the late Dr. Charles S. Sydnor and Betty Brown Sydnor.
Victor is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Barbara H. Sydnor, sons: Scott Sydnor of Raleigh, Robert Sydnor and wife Michelle of Holly Springs, grandchildren Adam Sydnor and Audrey Sydnor of Holly Springs, brother the Rev. Charles S. Sydnor, Jr. of Kingsport, Tennessee, and niece Dr. Beth Sydnor-Wilson of Roanoke, Virginia.
Mr. Sydnor grew up and was raised in Durham, where his father was the Dean of the Graduate School and Chairman of the History Department at Duke University. He was educated at the McCallie Preparatory School of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years as a medic during the Korean War and then continued his education at UNC, Chapel Hill and Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia., majoring in business and psychology. It was there that mutual friends introduced him to his future wife, Barbara. In Atlanta Victor worked as Associate Director of Junior Achievement of Greater Atlanta and later as Associate Director of the Georgia Mental Health Association., where he was known as an inspirational speaker. Later he and his family moved to Raleigh where he worked as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Mental Health Association, traveling around the state as a frequent speaker advocating for the mentally ill and later as a consultant in the North Carolina Department of Human Resources. Upon his retirement Victor served as a volunteer for the North Carolina Prison Program, visiting prisoners in jail and volunteering with the Yokefellow Prison Ministry. Later he volunteered for the council on Aging, visiting homebound shut-in-clients. He was recognized for his outstanding work as a volunteer by Governor James G. Martin.
Victor was a dedicated member of Benson Memorial United Methodist Church for over thirty years, where he served with dedication until he experienced declining health. He was a loyal member of the Hunt-Sharpe Sunday School Class.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 P.M on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Benson Memorial United Methodist Church, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall of the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial gifts be made to the Charles McAdams Preschool Scholarship Fund at Benson Memorial United Methodist Church, 4706 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6