The spirit of Sybil Williams Cope winged its way to heaven on the night of Friday, February 27, 2016. "Miss Sybil"--as she was called by her many friends—died peacefully as she rested in her bed with a book in her hand. She will be missed by the many friends and family members who loved and admired her as a wise and gracious woman.

Sybil was born in 1927 in Graceville, FL, as the fifth child of Horace and Carrie Williams. She was married over 60 years to Hubert Cope who passed away in 2008. She has been a faithful member of Holmes Creek Baptist Church all of her adult life. She loved her church and fulfilled many roles throughout her lifetime of service there.

She was a devoted wife and mother. Though she described herself as a homemaker, she also owned and operated The Gingerbread House, a local catering business for over ten years and served four years on the Washington County School Board.

Sybil is survived by two daughters and their families, Gail Hartzog and husband Ronnie of Lake City, FL, and Gardis Watts and husband Ben of DeFuniak Springs, FL. She was "Mama Sybil" to four grandchildren, Heather Watts Hall and husband Jamie of Paxton, FL, Christy Hartzog Thomas and her husband Derick of Lake City, FL, Ben Watts, Jr., and his wife Melissa of Dacula, GA, and Allison Hartzog of Pensacola, FL. She had five great-grandchildren, Adam and Will Hall, Caleb and Ethan Watts, and Sybil Grace Thomas. She is also survived by one sister, Lottie Bruner, of Tallahassee, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
She will be remembered for her sense of humor, her impeccable taste, her good cooking, the cards and notes of encouragement she mailed to others, her strong Christian faith, her powerful prayer life, and many other things.


Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, February 29, 2016, at Holmes Creek Baptist Church in Chipley with Reverend Clint Ellis officiating. The family will receive friends for visitation at the church from 1:00-2:00 P.M. Interment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery with Brown Funeral Home directing. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Building Fund at Holmes Creek Baptist Church, 335 Cope Road, Chipley, Florida 32428.