Sylvia Lewis

Celebrating the Legacy of Sylvia Lewis

On July 16, 2025, Sylvia Y. Lewis of Wilmington, Delaware, went home to the Lord.

On December 31, 1939 as everyone celebrated the start of a New Year , Sylvia proclaimed her entry into the world through her parents the late Dottie Yates Sr. and his wife Pauline King Yates of Chadbourn, North Carolina.

Sylvia attended Philadelphia public schools, graduating from Dobbins Vocational School. Where she excelled in secretarial and administrative studies.

While in high school, Sylvia met a young man, Fred Lewis, at a mutual friend's house. With sarcastic wit he asked Sylvia - as she blocked his view of the television he was watching-whether her father was a glass maker. They dated, Fred's wit and charm made Sylvia swoon, and they found they had matching senses of humor. They later married. During their 64-year union, they celebrated the births of their daughters Michele Rene and Fredda Denise.

Sylvia worked for the City of Philadelphia for more than 30 years where she held positions within the City''s Licenses and Inspections and later with the Clerk of Quarter Sessions Office where she served as a court clerk. Her attention to detail and excellent typing skills made her highly sought by Judges and she was regularly assigned to both the juvenile courts and criminal court systems. She retired from the City of Philadelphia in the late 1990's.

Sylvia accepted Jesus Christ at a young age, but developed her Christian journey at Christian Stronghold Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Known as a prayer warrior who fostered attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman, she was tapped to be a woman's discipleship leader. Hearing of her passing one of her former students stated " my discipleship leader was a very wise and kind Woman of Great Price.

In 2007, she joined Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church where she actively served on the Elite Ministry, Ephesian Ministry and regularly participated in Cornerstone's monthly prayer vigil. Since her passing it was shared that Sylvia "was a devoted and faithful member at Cornerstone, and her unwavering commitment to her faith truly inspired us all. Her grace, strength, and enduring service reflected the love of God in a profound way, and she will be deeply missed".

Sylvia loved to shop and was known for her beautiful clothes, jewelry and sense of style.

Outside of church she was an active member of the Golden Agers. She was deeply devoted to her family and was extremely proud of both her college-educated daughters. Her years working with judges in the Philadelphia court system would inspire her youngest daughter Fredda to become a judge. In January 2024, she witnessed her legacy continue when her youngest daughter, the Honorable Judge Fredda Lewis Maddox, was sworn-in as the first African American woman Judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Sylvia was predeceased by her husband of 64 years Fred and leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughters Michele Rene Browne and her husband Garry (Columbia, S.C); daughter Fredda Lewis Maddox, of West Chester PA; four grandchildren-Doran S. Boothe (N.C.), Hasanna Maddox, David Maddox and Kari Maddox (Atlanta, GA )-and her favorite grand-doggy "Bailey;" and a host of extended family and friends.

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