Sylvia Jean Freeman Stone was born in Robeson County, NC on September 7, 1937 and departed this earth on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Herbert Pink & Lizzie Martin Freeman; her husband, Wayne Stone; her daughters, Gwen Taylor and Sheila Stephens; her sister, Linda Floyd; and her brothers, Charles Freeman and Jerry Freeman.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa McNeill (Mark); her son, Michael Wayne Stone; her son-in-law, Gregory Stephens; her grandchildren: Sharon Bennett (Todd), Marcus McNeill, and Andy Locklear; her great-granddaughter, Macie Bennet; her sister-in-law, Kathy Freeman; and her brother-in-law, S.J. Stone; as well as her many nieces and nephews.

As a teen, she and her cousin, Nancy Warwick, sang gospel songs on a weekly radio broadcast with the Tobacco Troubadours. She later joined a gospel quartet with her brother, Charles Freeman, and Ms. Evelyn Johnson and Mack Johnson. They sang gospel performances throughout local Robeson County churches.

She served the Lord with much passion & dedication as she was very active at Hog Swamp Baptist Church. For over 6 decades she served as Church Clerk, Sunday School Teacher for the Senior Adult Women's Class, and then served as the Senior Adult Sunday School Teacher. Her passion for music continued as she sang in the church's choir. She was also a member of the church's Spice of Life Senior Group, where she joined them in travel and Christian activities.

She believed that music was healing to the soul and her best musical performances were in the solitude of her own home as she sang lullabies to her 4 children.

She retired from the City of Lumberton where she first worked as Administrative Assistant to the City Manager.  She was later approved via a grant as a Weed & Seed Coordinator with the U.S. Department of Justice and was a pioneer of this program in the city of Lumberton. The program's goal was to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods utilizing Lumberton Police Department's Police Staff. Her grant also built community police department satellite offices.

After pioneering a successful Weed & Seed program in Lumberton, she worked with the USDOJ to implement this program in cities across NC and throughout the United States.

In addition to human service activities in local communities, she organized outreach to underprivileged senior populations offering music lessons, art, and beginning computer classes. She developed after school programs and activities for underprivileged youth, a Junior Police Officer Academy for at-risk youth, and coordinated with the city for neighborhood revitalization!

She will be remembered most for her Christian faith, love of God and her church, her love and devotion to her soulmate, her love and sacrifice for her children, grandchildren and family, her community service and love of gardening of her beautiful flowers. She also adored her beloved adopted cat, "Kitty", and her precious grand-dog, "Pinki".

The family will receive friends and loved ones prior to the service on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 2:00-2:45 PM, at Hog Swamp Baptist Church, 2970 Wire Grass Road in Lumberton, NC. Following the visitation, a funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM with Larry Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Gardens of Faith Cemetery, 5190 Fayetteville Road in Lumberton, NC.