Sylvia Jean Timms

Sylvia Jean Quattlebaum Timms went to her Heavenly Home on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Poignantly, her passing was on the evening of what would have been her 61st wedding anniversary. Her children are comforted by the idea that in addition to joining her Savior she joined her husband and sweetheart who preceded her in death on their special day.

Most of her last decade she spent in a bedridden state. Often, she wished to her children and care givers that she could escape and go walking on a beach where she might enjoy the feel of the sand under her toes and the waves lapping over her ankles. The ocean was but one of nature’s beauties that she used to point out the handiwork of her Creator and launch into a discussion of how awesome her God was. She loved to make pictures of rainbows, hummingbirds, butterflies, and flowers. Not only did she appreciate the beauty of God’s handiwork but the opportunity to point it out to others and tell them what it meant to be a child of God. She not only spoke of Jesus to others but believed in speaking her prayers to Him. She was a woman filled with wisdom and witty in the way she said things. Frequently, there was a joke or underlying meaning in what she said. One often had to think beyond the immediate words to get the whole picture. A nurturing mother, she taught her children to think critically. She made sure they were independent by encouraging them to never take the ideas and thoughts of others at face value, but to be willing and capable of asking questions even to challenge ideas when warranted.

Born in Greenwood County, SC, on January 11, 1944, Sylvia was the only child of Fred Harmon Quattlebaum and Viola Hudson Quattlebaum. A graduate of Greenwood High School. she attended Winthrop College. In addition to being a faithful daughter, a loving wife and a wonderful mother, she worked at both Greenwood High School and Emerald High School where she encouraged her students and invested in their lives. She had a talent for loving the unlovable and finding the best qualities in everyone she met. She was an advocate for the underdog and worked tirelessly to make everyone feel accepted. 

Sylvia is survived by her three children, Lisa Timms Lanford, Jody Timms (Penny) and Laura Falls Babb (Ray) as well as one granddaughter, Angel Elizabeth Falls. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by a son-in law, John Thomas Lanford II.

Special thanks and deepest appreciation is afforded to a very special group of ladies who served as caregivers. They demonstrated great care, concern, compassion, and commitment in helping to attend Sylvia’s needs for the last year and a half of her life- Carla Paysinger, Jessica Brooks, Susan Abney McLaughlin, and Valerie Griffin. We could not have done it without you! Our gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and CNAs of our Hospice Team. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646; or by going to www.hospicepiedmont.org and click on DONATE NOW.

Online condolences can be left for the Timms family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Sylvia's life will take place on Friday, February 14, 2025, at Abbeville First Baptist, located at 307 N. Main Street, Abbeville, SC 29620. A short visitation will begin at 3:00 followed by a celebration of life and then a time for family and friends to gather and share memories honoring this wonderful woman.