Obituary of Sybiline Smith

Sybiline Smith, 90, of Gainesville, FL, and formerly of Archer, FL, and Lake Butler, FL, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2023.  Born in rural Randolph County, AL, in 1933, her family later moved to Roanoke, AL, where she worked as a twister frame operator at Handley Mills.  The mill was constructed before the advent of air conditioning and the area she worked in was known as "The Kitchen" because it was reported to be the hottest part of the mill.  She moved with family to Florida after retirement.  She first moved to a rural area near Lake Butler.  After returning to Roanoke for several years she moved back to the small town of Archer, Florida for seven years before moving in with family in Gainesville in 2017.  

She enjoyed outings with family to theme parks and other activities as well as flower gardening, sewing, crochet, and other handicrafts.  She was a fan of classic TV westerns and country/popular music, especially Elvis Presley and her musically talented relatives.  Most of all, she enjoyed caring for the youngest and oldest members of her family.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer Clifford Smith and Mary Lou Richardson Smith, formerly of Roanoke who lived in Lake Butler at the time of their deaths, her brother, Dewey Jewell Smith, and sisters Ruby Brown of Bowdon, GA, Louise Overton of Roanoke, and Ethel Yarbrough of Archer, FL.  She is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews and their families who grew up in the area around Roanoke and Bowdon and who now live in several states across the country.  

Pallbearers will be Greg Brown, Eric Brown, K. J. Mitchell, and Nicholas Yarbrough.  Honorary pallbearers will be Phillip Brown, Chris Yarbrough, Jackie Brown, Sammy Brown, and Elton Overton.

A visitation with family and viewing in Gainesville, FL, will be held Thursday, September 7th, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Williams-Thomas downtown location, 404 N Main St.  Another visitation and viewing will be held Friday, September 8th, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm CDT at Quattlebaum Funeral Home at 319 College St. in Roanoke, AL.  A graveside service will follow at (West) Napoleon Church of Christ at the intersection of Randolph County roads 484 and 56 on Saturday, September 9th, at 11:00 am CDT.