Sybil Thompson

Comment

Comment by Nelia de Villiers on May 1, 2009 at 3:43pm

Juan, at first I learned about your mother through the sharing stories of Martha, my daughter, she loved her, she loved her Nana. It was such a wonderful time, December 2006, when she and Tina visited us in South Africa. She made every place we showed her more special by living every moment to the full. Holding and feeding the lions - no fear, pulling the beard of father Christmas to find out if it's real - a sport, loving the children - a caring human, wearing lovely earrings and always so neat - a real lady, sharing stories - a great talker.
Thank you so much for sharing her with us.
In our memories
Nelia de Villiers

Comment by elizabeth s rhue on February 27, 2009 at 1:31am

sitting here for the past two hours. I have tried over and over again to find the words that fully express our feelings. But, everything I have started to say seems so trivial when I feel that i want to move mountains for the family.

The memory of Sybil will always be cherished by me and Aubrey. Her gaiety and wit brightened so many hours of our life. But, most of all, it was her stature as a person that will be long remembered.



Most Sincerely,


Elizabeth Rhue

Comment by Jena Phillips on February 25, 2009 at 10:45am

I will never forget the way Miss Sybil lit up when Cora Blue came into the room. She always made us feel like one of her own. I truely believe she and Cora were kindred spirits. Cora was being delivered at MUSC at about the same time Miss Sybil was having surgery at Roper. Even during recovery she called me to see how we were doing and let me know she loved us very much. After we came home, she visited us on several occasions and Momma and Glenn would take Cora to see her. I have a picture on my refrigerator of her laying in the floor with Cora. I believe Cora was born premature so that she would able to know such a wonderful and caring person, if even for a short time.
I am grateful to have been invited into her life. She meant so much to me and Ian, and especially Momma. Thank you Miss Sybil for pickles on my subs, stories of angry momma bobcats, and welcoming us into your life. It is an amazing feeling to be chosen. We love you and miss you.

Comment by Leaning Institute on February 20, 2009 at 12:51pm

“Hey, I’m Sybil”. That was the beginning of my curiosity as to who was this person that had leaned to me with a warm smile and a hand shake. Her wonderful spirit seemed to radiate around her. Right away I could feel my spirit being lifted just because I was in her presence. I knew she was a leaner. I am sure we have all experienced laughing just because someone else is laughing whether live or even recorded. That was the way it was with the peace that she had. She made me feel more peaceful and have a sense of joy with no effort at all on her part; just like the contagious laughing. Her sense of humor was always refreshing and she could make me laugh, too.
I told you about how she leaned to me, but Sybil leaned to everyone the same way with her beautiful spirit freely offered to everyone. I had several opportunities to witness her meeting someone for the first time. It didn’t matter what they looked like or what station they seemed to hold in life; she made the acquaintance the same way. Depending on the circumstances, she would sometimes, as she did with me, extend a handshake, or maybe she would reach out with both hands with a warm and loving hug. Either way, she would always extend her loving spirit. I always looked forward to the moment when she would say; “hey, I’m Sybil”. With just hearing those three words, I could tell she really enjoyed walking in her shoes. I came to know Sybil through business. She was a real estate agent and I was interested in some property that she listed. Our relationship started on a business level, but quickly turned into a special friendship. It has been over ten years now and I would like to share with you just how our relationship changed so quickly.
During the course of our business, there were properties that I wanted her to show me and we decided we would ride together so she could share information as we rode along. On the way to one of the properties, we stopped at a store at the edge of town and both of us got a soft drink and a pack of crackers to snack on during our ride. Our conversation flowed effortlessly and it was only interrupted to sip on a drink or to take a bite from a cracker. We discussed business briefly, but as I remember it, we soon started talking about where we grew up and who we both knew and our life’s journey. Our first conversation shed some light on this person named Sybil. My first impression was that she enjoyed life and certainly had found her peace. I can make an attempt with my words to express how her face just lit up when the subject was her family, her church, or her friends. However, you would have had to experience it yourself to really understand how much she loved them. The love she expressed for her family, her church, and her friends formed a mental triangle for me that would always be at the core of Sybil. The “exchange students” were also in that group I refer to as her family. I think there were a number of people that were so fortunate to be in that special group. She always presented pictures with great pride of her family members and her friends. One mystery was now solved; I knew how her spirit was recharged so she could lift the spirits of so many. Looking back at our friendship, it is clear that she received many “leaning moments” from them. She was a great example of a person’s life being defined and valued by their “leaning moments.” Sybil had a balance in her life that I admired. She knew how to have fun and could always tell a joke or share a funny story.
Whenever I would visit Sybil, she would come to the door and with that beautiful smile and wonderful spirit, and say, “Come on in, I’m so glad to see you”. She would lead the way into her home and would arrive in front of the chair she chose for me. Somehow, she made me feel like there was a special place for me in her home and she was glad I was there. I learned a lot from Sybil. I saw how she was able to lift someone’s spirit and make them feel better about themselves and the world around them. She did that for me many times when I was in her presence. However, I still draw strength when I remember the “leaning moments” I had with her and the “leaning moments” I saw her have with others. I really enjoyed watching her with her infant grandson. He could really make her eyes sparkle.
I started this story telling how Sybil would say, “hey, I’m Sybil,” and how just the way she said it drew everyone to her. If you remember, earlier I described what it was like dropping by for a visit at Sybil’s house. And, how she would lean to me with an outstretched hand and say come on in with a feeling that there is a special place for you in my home. So, when she would say, “hey, I’m Sybil,” I think with her words she was conveying to her new acquaintance her name, but with her spirit she was saying, I have a special life and there is room for you, so please come in, you are surely welcome. I was one of the lucky ones, because I accepted her invitation to come into her home and her wonderful life.

Thanks Sybil, for all the “leaning moments” that you created with me and so many others.
James Sarvis

Comment by Juan Johnson on February 4, 2009 at 12:19pm

I hope one day my daughter will look towards me as you do of your Mom.How beautiful, she's with you always! June-Bug

Comment by Martha de Villiers on February 4, 2009 at 7:00am

I love reading what you wrote about Nana. It's not just because of the warm tears it brings, but because of the grateful heart I feel. That I, a little girl very far away, could have ended up in HER home. I am forever grateful to God, -Nana's and our Saviour. He put me with the best Nana and family I could ever ask for. Now that Nana is gone and I have grown, there's all these incredible memories that I have of her. Everything that Mom Jo-jo wrote is true. How she was always there to care, talk to anyone on the street and made friends instantly. How she would brag about me as if I really were from her own blood...and never a dull moment! She could make you laugh and laugh till tears come. She was never scared to do ANYthing and that made her kind of a tomboy, but, oh, she was a lady! I would go into her room at night and she would let me go through her jewellery and wear her beautiful dresses. We would sit and watch movies together and cry and cry whenever we feel like it. Toegther with the tissues we each had our ice cuppichinos in hand! haha! That was our favourite drink to share.

I am grateful that she came so far to see where her exchanged granddaughter lived. She was fighting the cancer so hard already then, but her will was so strong and with God strenght together they made it here. so I can be with her a last time... Thank you Jesus, I will forever be grateful for that last hug and kiss of my beautiful Nana.

In my heart she has her place, and will be with me till one day we will share cuppichino again.:-)
I will forever love you Nana...

Comment by Corey Zink on February 2, 2009 at 12:20am

That is a wonderful story that shares how important it is to have Leaners in our lives. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

Comment by Leaning Institute on February 1, 2009 at 9:41pm

Juan,
Thanks for the great picture of Sybil, your mother and my special friend. Her picture captures her wonderful spirit that she shared with so many giving them strength. I will add my story later.

Comment by Michele Murphy on February 1, 2009 at 9:31pm

Juan,
I was very fortunate to have met your mother and spend some time with her. She always greeted me with a warm smile and a sweet spirit. She was always talking about one of her children or grandchildren with great pride and joy. I never knew her to have a bad day, everyday to her was an adventure. Sybil was a leaner and we still draw strength from her. Thank you for sharing this story about your mother.