Elder Dr. Sylvia Yvonne Pilson

Elder Dr. Sylvia Yvonne Reddick Pilson is the daughter of Dorothy Hutchins Reddick and the late E. James Reddick. Dr. Reddick Pilson was a 1978 graduate of Early County High School in Blakely, Georgia. As a student at Early County High, she served as Future Homemakers of America (FHA) Chapter Treasurer, earned her Senior degree in FHA and was president of the Senior Girls Troop 300. While in high school, she also received the Academic Achievement Award from the Blakely NAACP. Elder Sylvia had a heart for the youth, which she demonstrated as president, and co-founder of Essence Plus, which awarded college scholarships to young girls that looked like her. She served as one of the members on the Howard Community Center Board of Directors. With the intention of supporting her hometown of Blakely, GA, she taught at several junior and high schools there. Dr. Reddick Pilson attended Morris Brown College where she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Special Education graduating Cum Laude. While attending Morris Brown College, she received “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges”. She attended Troy State University of Dothan, Alabama, receiving a master’s degree in counseling and psychology. She later attended Jacksonville State University, receiving her Specialist degree in Education Leadership and Administration, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She continued her education at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, receiving her Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to her academic studies, Dr. Reddick Pilson attended Beulah University and Luther Rice Seminary in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She also attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, becoming certified in Neo-Science and School Turnaround Education. Dr. Reddick Pilson has served as a classroom teacher on the elementary, middle, high school, and collegiate levels. Her passion for students encouraged her to serve as an elementary school counselor, assistant principal, and principal as well. One of her biggest highlights in public education was when she was hired to serve as part of the staff at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts as part of the School Turnaround Institute. For 30+ years, Dr. Reddick Pilson was a faithful member of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (NBMBC). During that time, she served as the Director of New Birth Bible Institute, Co-Lead of the Ministerial Alliance, and Coordinator of the Elders and Ministers in Training Program. She also was a teacher and facilitator of the New Members class. Dr. Reddick Pilson had the opportunity to minister in Monrovia, Liberia; Auckland, New Zealand; Jerusalem, Israel; London, England; Corinth and Athens, Greece; Sapporo, Japan; Rocky Mountain, Virginia and Blakely, Georgia; just to name a few. Dr. Reddick Pilson met and married the love of her life, Elder Marlon A. Pilson on November 21, 2009. Together, they travelled the world, served in ministry, and shared their love of education, which birthed their educational consulting company, ARVONNE Group, LLC. Dr. Pilson leaves to cherish her precious memories, her husband, Elder Marlon A. Pilson, a daughter, Elisabeth Jones and a grandson, Maverick Carter Jones. She also is survived by her mother Dorothy Hutchins Reddick and was the sister of Horace Williams (Idella), Cynthia Shepard, James G. Reddick (Rachelle) and late Michael C. Reddick. She had 2 sister-in-laws, Chanda Pilson and Levette Pilson and mother-in-law, Leola Pilson and late father-in-law, John Pilson. She had one uncle, LD Reddick and 5 Aunts: Rosie (Fleming) Burroughs, Estella (Ernest) Smith, Murlene (Earnest) Wright, Aretha Thomas, Virginia Hall and (LV) Evelyn Morgan. She also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and many other friends and loved ones. Elder Dr. Sylvia Yvonne Reddick Pilson’s motto for her life has been, “Once you remove IF and CAN’T out of your vocabulary, you can do any and all things”. Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, 4347 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, G 30034.

Elder Dr. Sylvia Yvonne Pilson

February 13, 1960 - August 3, 2026