Rebecca "Becky" (McDaniel) Sykes

Rebecca “Becky” McDaniel Sykes died August 4, 2020, at Piedmont Crossing in Thomasville. She is now singing in heaven’s choir. She was born in South Carolina on July 1, 1924, to Lee & Marie McDaniel and was the last remaining member of her family. She grew up in Palmerville, NC, and learned how to swim in Badin Lake. She played basketball at Badin High School under Coach P.M. Dulin. During World War II, she worked in Washington, DC. After the War, she married her next door neighbor, Pat Sykes, and became an avid N.C. State fan while Pat attended that University. They lived in various cities in North Carolina and Tennessee. She could can or freeze any vegetable that Pat grew from Spring thru Fall. She was a member of the Eastern Star, a Girl Scout den mother, a substitute teacher, a choir member at each church she attended, a Meals on Wheels volunteer, and an avid camper at Myrtle Beach campgrounds that included Pirateland, Lake Arrowhead, & Ponderosa. After Pat’s retirement from Duke Power, they settled in Thomasville, NC. She became an active Duke Power retiree member, and served as the group president for several years. She & Pat attended his Navy reunions all over the country & hosted one of those reunions in Thomasville.

At the time of her passing, she was a member of First Baptist Church in Thomasville where she sang in the choir, coordinated the senior adult activities, as well as the weekly Wednesday night meals. She moved to Piedmont Crossing in 2010. While living there, she loved Bingo days, the singing of Two Men & a Guitar, craft activities, Sunday afternoon worship services, daily walks, and desserts at meals, especially ice cream. The Piedmont Crossing staff members especially loved her “one liners”. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Sheets, Charles & Lee Jr., one sister, Frances Burleson, a stillborn child, her husband, Pat, daughter, Cathy Harrell, and daughter-in-law, Barbara Sykes.

Surviving are daughters, Debby (Steve) Brandon of Cleveland, Tennessee; Penny (Benjy) Creasman, of Thomasville, NC; son, Pat Sykes, Jr. of Lincolnton, NC; and son-in-law Billy Harrell of Raleigh, NC. Also surviving are grandchildren Cameron Creasman of Wilmington, NC; Ann (David) Miolen of Cleveland, Tennessee; Steve Brandon, Jr. of Cleveland, Tennessee; Emily Harrell-Hilburn (Patty) of Clayton, NC; Jason (Crystal) Harrell of Wake Forest, NC; Courtney (Cary) Webb of Wake Forest, NC; Nicole (Alex) Mullen of Maiden, NC; and Pat Sykes III of Chester, VA. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Jaxon Creasman, Morgan Miolen, Andrew Miolen, Matthew Miolen, Addie Webb, Brayden Webb, Karis Mullen, Kelsie Mullen, Cooper Harrell & Camden Harrell.

The family would like to thank the staff at Piedmont Crossing for their love and care during the years in which she was a resident there.

A funeral will be conducted at J.C. Green & Sons Funeral Home in Thomasville at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2020 with Rev. Bynum Orr officiating. Burial will follow in the Holy Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the family. Mrs. Sykes will lie in state at the funeral home on Friday, August 7, until the time of the service for anyone that would like to pay their respects. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Piedmont Crossing, 100 Hedrick Drive, Thomasville, NC 27360. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.jcgreenandsons.com 

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