Sylvia L. Steelman

1941 - 2025

Sylvia Louise Steelman (nee Carroll), 83, of Urbana, Maryland passed away peacefully at her home Monday, August 25, 2025, with her loving husband and daughter at her side.

Sylvia was the sixth of seven children, born September 24, 1941, in Jonesville, VA, to the late Tillman and Gladys Carroll. Her Father passed away when she was just 7 years old. At the age of 17, she moved to Maryland to help support her Mother and younger siblings, which now included two half-sisters.

Her humble beginnings forged a spirit of relentless determination. Even though her formal education ended in 10th grade, she was always a straight A student. She was never able to obtain her diploma due to her unfortunate family circumstances, but in 2003, the Lee County Public School Superintendent awarded her an honorary diploma for her lifetime of achievements.

After coming to Maryland she began working at Holladay-Tyler Printing Corporation as a Floor Manager in the bindery department. This is where she hired, who would become the love of her life, William Thyer Steelman. After leaving Holladay-Tyler, she went on to what would be a 32 year career with Safeway Foods, Inc.

She began with Safeway at the Damascus, MD location as a Checker, proceeding to climb the ladder to Teller. After completing an intense management training program, she opened the Safeway Store in Westminster, MD, as the very first female Store Manager in the state. She went on to open and manage stores throughout the state including Frederick, Germantown and Gaithersburg. Retiring in the year 2000, from the 7th Street, Frederick, MD store. She was well known for being an "Iron Lady", who demanded perfection, but was always fair.

In 1963, she and Thyer married in Gaithersburg, MD. They moved to Urbana, MD in 1965, the same home she resided in until her passing. There they raised two daughters, Sharon and Sherry.

Sylvia was not only a dedicated career woman, she was also an incredible cook who loved to feed any and everyone who visited their home. Affectionately known as GRITS, "Girl Raised In The South", she never knew how to make a small portion. Her loving southern charm always shown through her cooking.

In her retirement years, she took up the hobby of golf. She and Thyer traveled extensively, including their annual month-long trips to South Carolina to play. Thyer always told her she was a better golfer than him as she's the only one to ever get a hole-in-one. As much as she loved the game of golf, her greatest passion, besides her family, was quilting. During her lifetime, she completed well over a hundred incredible quilts for family, friends and donated many to nursing homes and cancer charities.

Sylvia is lovingly remembered by her husband of 62 years, September 1, Thyer Steelman; her daughters, Sharon Steelman and Sherry Norberg and her husband Christopher. Her grandchildren; Ashley, Nathan (Alex), and Christopher Steelman, Corey (Lindsay), Tyler (Micalea) and Quinten Norberg. Great-grandchildren Ellie, Luke, Axton, Isabella, Ellis, Ophelia, Camila and Hazel. Her sister-in law Frances Carroll, sister Sue (Joe) Norris, and half-sister Glennis VanHoozier, along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her siblings; Reba Carroll, Myrble (Dennis) Parkey, Bobbie (Lawton) Mathis, Jimmy Carroll, TJ Carroll, and half-sister Letha Diehl.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 5, at 10:00 a.m., at Resthaven Funeral Home, 9501 Catoctin Mountain Highway, Frederick, MD, 21701, with services to begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception 12-3:00 p.m.

Sylvia requested those wishing to make donations in her memory to please send to American Heart Association or American Cancer Society. She herself made the honorable decision to donate her pacemaker/defibrillator to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine - Virginia Tech, to lovingly save a dog's life.

Sylvia L. Steelman