Sylvia King

Sylvia Riley King, 83, passed away on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Duke University Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late Raymond Roosevelt and Lillie Austin Riley.  Sylvia was lovingly called Chibby by her siblings and Meemaw by her grandchildren.

Sylvia married the love of her life, Merlin “Merle” Thomas King, on May 22, 1955. Their marriage lasted thirty-two years as Merle passed away in July 1987.  Many years later, Sylvia met the second love of her life, Eliud “El” David Hebblethwaite, at a Singles Square Dance Club, and they married several years later. El passed away on October 27, 2014.

Sylvia retired from General Electric in Mebane and was a member of Northside Presbyterian Church in Burlington. She enjoyed square dancing, ballroom dancing and line dancing for most of her life.  Sylvia was an avid Tarheel fan watching basketball and football games with her family. Sylvia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister and will be missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her daughters, Deborah King Byrd and her husband, Richard Gray Byrd, Jr. of Mebane and Julie King Terrell of Mebane; grandchildren, Graylyn Elizabeth Byrd and husband Seth Carter, Meryl Katrina Byrd, Ezra Gray Byrd and wife Elle Jolly Byrd, and Jerry Levi Terrell; sister, Jo Ann Downey and husband Jim of Indiana and a brother, Jim Riley and wife Beverly of Burlington, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings, Raymond Richard Riley, Mary June Culp (Claude), Carol Castine McLaurin (William), Betty Sue Bunker, Charlie Allison Riley (Sheila); and one grandchild, Thomas Levi Terrell.

In lieu of flowers, please be kind to others and make someone smile every day.