Sylvia Durity

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Sylvia Lucille Durity quietly left us on February 9, 2021, at her home in Alexandria, Virginia.
Saddened by her passing, Sylvia was a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, aunt, great-aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, friend and neighbor. She lived her life full of taking chances, praising God, living her life to the fullest and leaving everyone with treasured memories.
Sylvia was born September 11, 1935 in San Fernando, Trinidad to the late Alma Durity (nee Bledman) and Fitzroy Durity. Sylvia attended school and loved to tell stories of attending St Gabriel’s Girls RC School. Also, she loved to tell stories of her days growing up in Trinidad
In the 60’s, Sylvia migrated to Virginia with the dreams of broadening her education and providing opportunities for her four young sons. A single mother, she worked several jobs to provide the best for her family. Her passion was in health care. She worked as a Health Care Provider at nursing homes, including Marseilles Nursing Home in Washington, D.C. She found and followed her passion in private home healthcare.
Sylvia was a very active supporter to the Caribbean community. She would take time to provide assistance to the newly arriving families from Trinidad. She would take her non-Caribbean friends to the Caribbean festivals introducing them to the culture, music and food. Sylvia was proud to say that she believed and was a child of God. She attended and supported two churches: Long Life with Jesus Spiritual Baptist Church and Sacred Heart with Jesus Spiritual Baptist Church in the DC Metro area. She enjoyed the comradery of her church family on bus trips to their sister churches from Maryland to New York and New Jersey and when the sister churches were visiting. She was always collecting gently used clothing, monetary donations or food items to assist in the church’s Saturday’s Caribbean style cooking, which provided free meals and clothing to the disadvantaged and homeless people in the community.
Sylvia was a dedicated mother first and foremost. Her love was her family, a “Mama Bear”. In her retirement years, Sylvia enjoyed spending time with her grand and great grandchildren. She would use any excuse including “dew falling” to have them stay with her when they were young. She would proudly let you know that all five of her children are college grads. Her dreams of coming to America were accomplished. Sylvia was overjoyed when she joined the senior program at the Charles Houston Rec Center. Her days were filled with excitement participating in the holiday events, field trips, fitness and walking programs.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents Alma and Fitzroy Durity, her brother Edmond Durity, sister Joyce Thompson (nee Durity), son Allan Durity, niece Natalie Durity and brother-in-law Oswald Thompson. She is survived by her brother Joseph Durity, sister Victoria Durity, sons Stephen “Steve” Durity, Roger Durity and Terrance “Terry” Durity, daughter Abena Durity, nieces Beverly Ann Thoma, Nicole Durity and Kathleen Durity, nephews Wendell Thompson and Kerwin Durity, grandchildren Ayanna Durity, Kwadjo Durity, Zacariah “Zack” Durity Black and Nathanael “Nate” Durity Paulina, great-granddaughter Annaya Andrews; great-nieces and great nephews, the La Caille family, a host of longtime close friends and her beloved church family.
A celebration of Sylvia’s life will be held at Cunningham Turch Funeral Home, 811 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314 on Thursday, February 18th 2021. Visitation will be held at 10 am and Celebration of Life Service will begin at 11 am. Burial will take place at Bethel Cemetery at 2 pm.
A special thanks to the Sam Houston Rec Senior program staff and the Senior Services of Alexandria staff for the assistance in enrollment benefits and programs they provided to Sylvia.
The family will like to thank everyone for their kind and comforting prayers and well wishes.
Due to current COVID-19 pandemic there will not be a repast after the funeral.