Ethel Anne "Sunny" Nyman

1941 - 2023

Ethel Anne "Sunny" Nyman

July 17, 1941 - October 21, 2023

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Ethel Anne "Sunny" Williams Nyman of Baton Rouge, La, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 21, 2023, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was 82.

Sunny, as she was known to friends and family, was born on July 17, 1941, to Ethel Joyce Entrekin Williams and John Henry Williams, in Biloxi, MS. She was the third oldest of eight children and was often called upon to look after her five younger siblings, whom she adored. She earned the nickname "Sunny" from her bright smile and easy laughter.

Sunny married John William Nyman after graduating high school in Moss Point, MS, and moved to New Orleans, at the height of its civil rights movement. Though a young mother also working part-time, she became a vocal supporter of racial equality, often writing letters to the editor that were occasionally published in the Times Picayune and the States Item, the two New Orleans newspapers. Her passion for justice, and commitment to advocacy for under-represented groups, or those whose voices were being drowned out by corporate greed, never wavered, and remained a defining characteristic of her life until her death. She believed it was her duty to God to never lower her voice raised in support of justice, and she was relentless in her dedication to fighting for what she believed was right. She never stopped beseeching her friends, family and especially her children to call or write their congressional representatives to demand accountability from those entrusted with power. She was brilliant, funny, generous, infuriating, dogmatic, really loud, had endless compassion for those less fortunate than she and was a sucker for every stray dog she ever encountered.

Her often radical views and unapologetic pursuit of them led to a lifetime of lively discussions among her equally passionate and brilliant family, siblings and children, not all of whom always shared her perspective or agreed with her. Though tempers often flared, Sunny never allowed words spoken in the heat of discussion to dim her fierce love for family. Her three children were her greatest joy: John Andrew ("Andy"), Joyce Nanine, and Tania, and she adored her four grandchildren. Though she did not get to meet him before her death, she was overjoyed at the birth of her first great-grandson just a few weeks prior to her passing.

Sunny was predeceased by her husband, John William Nyman, and her two older sisters, Jackie and Mary. She is survived by her five younger siblings: John, Carol, Faye, Frank and Sharon; her three children, four grandchildren, one great grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces, nephews and cousins. The world will be quieter without her but not necessarily in a good way. Her greatest wish would be that her voice and passion for justice would endure in the voices of others, young and old, and that the pursuit of justice would become a universal quest of all peoples.

Services will be held at Community of Christ Church,4220 Dan Sherman Road, Moss Point, MS, on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local no-kill animal rescue or any organization that provides legal assistance to indigent defendants.