Obituary for Dr. Sylvia Talbot at New Generation Funeral Home (2024)

Visitation with the Family
Saturday, July 15, 2023
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Greater Bethel AME Church
1300 South Street
Nashville Tennessee
37212

Memorial Celebration
Saturday, July 15, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Greater Bethel AME Church
1300 South Street
Nashville Tennessee
37212

Dr. Sylvia Ross Talbot was born January 22,1934 in St. Croix, Virgin Islands to the late Rachael Petersen Ross-Carter and late Iver Ross.
Sylvia was a devoted wife for over 60 years to the late Bishop Frederick Hilborn Talbot, 90th and consecrated Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. A loving big sister to Gertrude (Trudy) Ross Jones, her spouse, Paul Willie Jones; and Clarissa
Ross Lewis and her spouse, the late Linwood Lewis, Jr. Sylvia loved her adopted son, Phoenix Doris, her nieces, nephews, and other
family members and friends. She also adored her faithful dog, Bella.

Dr. Sylvia Ross Talbot accomplished so much through the years, starting with her education. In 1955, she received a Bachelor of Science
in Biology and was Summa Cum Laude from Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. Shortly thereafter, she received her Master
of Science in Public Health from Yale University in 1957. Then in 1969, she received a Doctorate in Health Education from Teachers
College, Columbia University. She was the first spouse of an A.M.E. Bishop with an earned doctorate.

Dr. Talbot led regional, national, and international religious organizations, including the Continuation Committee, the Caribbean
Conference of Churches, and the Christian Medical Commission of the World Council of Churches. She was the first African American
woman elected as Vice Moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and the first African Methodist elected
as the National President of Church Women United/USA.

She had a rich and varied work experience in the community of health in the United States and Guyana. Dr. Talbot was appointed
Minister of Health in Guyana, heading a government department responsible for the country’s hospitals, pharmacies, and public health
service, and becoming the chief spokesperson and advocate for public health in Parliament. Later, she was appointed a delegate to the
United Nations General Assembly from Guyana. For seven years, she worked with her husband in his diplomatic career, accompanying
him on his tours as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and later Ambassador to the United States and Canada, then to
several nations in the Caribbean.

She inspired and guided women and young people to address health, education, poverty, and sexism issues. During her presidency of
Church Women United, she succeeded in having them adopt poverty as a five-year imperative for the program. She worked continuously
in leadership development and was recognized for her innovative programming.

Other experiences include World Bank Consultant in School Health to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; Organizer and
Executive Director of a non-profit interfaith disaster relief organization in St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Vice-Chair, Board of Trustees,
University of the Virgin Islands; Advocate for abused women in St. Croix; Board Member, Girl Scout Council of Cumberland Valley,
Tennessee.

Dr. Talbot traveled to many countries in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. She authored several books,
including her autobiography, “Finding My Voice.” She received awards, citations and was recognized by: “Essence Woman” (ESSENCE
Magazine, 1972) and “Legend of Our Times” (ESSENCE Magazine, 1990). She was listed in “Profiles of Outstanding Virgin Islanders,”
“Churchwoman of the Year” (Religious Heritage of America, 1989), “International Citizen of the Year” (Alpha Kappa Alpha, 1990) and
also listed among “25 Most Prominent Men and Women in the Virgin Islands.”

Her passion for elevating people extended to the A.M.E. Church and her service spanned all levels, including organist, Sunday School
Teacher, Conference Branch President of the Womens Missionary Society, and Episcopal District Director of the Young People’s
Division. Later as the spouse of a Bishop, she undertook responsibility for supervising Women’s, Youth, and Childrens work in the
districts to which the spouse was assigned. Over 32 years, she served in the following Districts: 16th (the Caribbean, South America,
Europe), 6th (Georgia), 12th (Arkansas and Oklahoma), and 13th (Kentucky and Tennessee).

On May 15,2023, Dr. Sylvia Ross Talbot departed this earthly life at the age of 89 in Nashville, Tennessee. She is survived by her sisters:
Gertrude (Trudy) Ross Jones (husband: Paul Willie Jones), Clarissa Ross Lewis, Dolores Carter-Brown, Dorothy Carter, and Rigmor
Carter-Barron; adopted son: Phoenix Doris (spouse: Annette); nephews: David Harding (wife: Eileen and children: Kieran (Suzanne),
George (Lianne), and Devin (Alissa), Linwood Lewis III (wife: Carolyn Lewis-Ferrell and children: Benjamin and Karina), Steven
Lewis (wife: Jeanine Law-Lewis), and Jordon Griffin (son of the late Paula Prince); nieces: Cindy Harding, Katherine Jones Berry
(children: Miles and Alexus Berry), Angela Lewis Reid (child: Kaitlyn Reid-Saunders and husband: Armani Saunders), and Veronica
(Nikki) Lewis; and a host of cousins on the Edney, Petersen and Ross family side, good friends and her loving and faithful dog, Bella.

Please keep the family ofDr. Sylvia Talbotin your thoughts and prayers.

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