Sybil Saunders Clinard Hillis
Sybil Saunders Clinard Hillis
Sybil Saunders Clinard Hillis, 78, of Valona, GA, departed this life August 15th, 2023, at 8:30 p.m. at the Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted Saturday, September 9, at 2 p.m. at the Atwood Family Cemetery in Valona. A memorial for Joseph M. Clinard, her departed son, will also be held that day.
Born October 28,1944 in Tallahassee, FL, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Irving Jasper Saunders of Moultrie, GA and Perry Watson Saunders of Valona, GA. Although Sybil lived for approximately 10 years in Lebanon, Tennessee; and she traveled to many other places during her time in the Navy; Valona was always where she considered home. She grew up there surrounded by her mother, her grandparents, her 6 aunts, and 2 uncles, their spouses, and a multitude of cousins. Sybil was a strong, happy, loving, giving woman and she always had a positive attitude; she spread joy and happiness everywhere she went. It seemed like she never knew a stranger.
She was born with that McIntosh mud between her toes; and she always took time to take her children, cousins, and friends crabbing and fishing, to the beach, or to throw the cast net. She would then cook up the catch and everyone would eat like the royalty she claimed we descended from! Sybil taught her family to be thankful and to count their blessings, reminding them of the wisdom from her grandmother that as long as they were on the river, they would never be hungry.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her son Joseph McPhearson Clinard (Valona); daughter Karol Gay Clinard Roberts (Valona); brother Alexander Hall “Sandy” Saunders (Stone Mountain, GA); sister Gay Saunders Jacobs (Valona); and grandson James Matthew Kenneth Roberts (St. Marys, GA).
She is survived by a daughter, Perry Saunders Clinard White of McIntosh County, Ga.; and grandchildren, Sybil (Megan) Mincey, Aaron B. Jowers, David R. Brannen, Patrick C. White (Cydnee), James Clinard, Daniel Clinard, Trevor Roberts, Rayne Roberts; many great-grandchildren, including Rilegh, Peyton, and Ayden B. Jowers, Kendyl and Kaydence Brannen Katalaya and Keegan Mincey, Dylilah Blayre, and Nova Lielle White; and nieces, Meta J. Willis and Anne Saunders. She is also survived by her long-loved significant other Bruce G. Findley.