Official Obituary of
Sylvia Jo (Birdsong) Riley
March 2, 1935 ~ April 24, 2025 (age 90) 90 Years Old
Sylvia Riley Life Story
A funeral service for Sylvia Jo Riley, 90, of Dallas (and formerly Longview) will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cammack Family Funeral Home in Longview with Leonard E. Riley, Jr. officiating.
Sylvia passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Dallas, at her son's house where she was in hospice care. She was born March 2, 1935, in Tyler to Fred and Gussie Mae Birdsong.
She graduated from Tyler High School, where her nickname was "The Girl With a Heart" because she had a birth mark on her face that looked like a heart. Sylvia did have a big heart, helping out many people and animals that were in need. Throughout her life, Sylvia would graciously open her home when someone needed a place to stay. When she lived at Lake Cherokee, Sylvia would adopt stray dogs that she found at the dump, until she had half a dozen running around her yard at any one time. Sylvia also volunteered at Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview.
At a young age, Sylvia was asked to be a model in New York, but preferred to ride her horses at the family farm. She was also a Daddy's girl, who went to the horse races and wrestling matches with her father Fred Birdsong.
Sylvia studied music at the University of Texas and was an award-winning piano player, who regaled her family members at holiday parties with "Blue Moon" while singing along. She also played piano in the Christian Church in Tyler in which she was raised.
When she moved to Longview, Sylvia became a member of the Mobberly Avenue Church of Christ, and also the Alpine Church of Christ. In her later years, Sylvia moved to Dallas and joined the Preston Road Church of Christ, where she enjoyed Bible study and met many new friends.
Sylvia loved the outdoors, gardening and playing bridge. She was very active in the YMCA.
She was married to Al Garrett, Sr. for 26 years, and then to Leonard Riley, Sr. for 23 years, both decorated veterans of World War II.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; her son Joe Garrett; her two Sisters, Fredna Gabriel and Del Rose Yale, and two nephews, Fredrick Hedge and Raymond Hedge. She is survived by her loving family, including her sons Al Garrett and David Garrett; daughters-in-law Carey Garrett and Leslie Beaumont; step-daughters Nalora Riley Moser and Sharon Riley; step-son Leonard Riley, Jr.; grandchildren, Aaron Garrett (Maggie), Anna Garrett, Ali Yeager (Carson), Jessie Garrett (Lyndee), Brandyn Garrett, Roger Moser (Jennifer); Heath Moser (Candy); great grandchildren, Banks William Yeager, Luke Garrett, Destiney Word and Morgan Moser; and her cat Inky, which she adopted from the parking lot at Jones Hardware in Longview.
Sylvia and her family appreciate how she was loved and cared for by several caregivers, especially Sarah L'Italien Harper, Shirley Alexander, Edith Alexander, Angela Lee and Roberta L'Italien.
Sylvia passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Dallas, at her son's house where she was in hospice care. She was born March 2, 1935, in Tyler to Fred and Gussie Mae Birdsong.
She graduated from Tyler High School, where her nickname was "The Girl With a Heart" because she had a birth mark on her face that looked like a heart. Sylvia did have a big heart, helping out many people and animals that were in need. Throughout her life, Sylvia would graciously open her home when someone needed a place to stay. When she lived at Lake Cherokee, Sylvia would adopt stray dogs that she found at the dump, until she had half a dozen running around her yard at any one time. Sylvia also volunteered at Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview.
At a young age, Sylvia was asked to be a model in New York, but preferred to ride her horses at the family farm. She was also a Daddy's girl, who went to the horse races and wrestling matches with her father Fred Birdsong.
Sylvia studied music at the University of Texas and was an award-winning piano player, who regaled her family members at holiday parties with "Blue Moon" while singing along. She also played piano in the Christian Church in Tyler in which she was raised.
When she moved to Longview, Sylvia became a member of the Mobberly Avenue Church of Christ, and also the Alpine Church of Christ. In her later years, Sylvia moved to Dallas and joined the Preston Road Church of Christ, where she enjoyed Bible study and met many new friends.
Sylvia loved the outdoors, gardening and playing bridge. She was very active in the YMCA.
She was married to Al Garrett, Sr. for 26 years, and then to Leonard Riley, Sr. for 23 years, both decorated veterans of World War II.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; her son Joe Garrett; her two Sisters, Fredna Gabriel and Del Rose Yale, and two nephews, Fredrick Hedge and Raymond Hedge. She is survived by her loving family, including her sons Al Garrett and David Garrett; daughters-in-law Carey Garrett and Leslie Beaumont; step-daughters Nalora Riley Moser and Sharon Riley; step-son Leonard Riley, Jr.; grandchildren, Aaron Garrett (Maggie), Anna Garrett, Ali Yeager (Carson), Jessie Garrett (Lyndee), Brandyn Garrett, Roger Moser (Jennifer); Heath Moser (Candy); great grandchildren, Banks William Yeager, Luke Garrett, Destiney Word and Morgan Moser; and her cat Inky, which she adopted from the parking lot at Jones Hardware in Longview.
Sylvia and her family appreciate how she was loved and cared for by several caregivers, especially Sarah L'Italien Harper, Shirley Alexander, Edith Alexander, Angela Lee and Roberta L'Italien.
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