Sylvia Edwards

Sylvia was born in Leesville, Louisiana on June 19,1945 to the late Jasper Keys and

Sylvia McMarion Keys. Surrounded by love, Sylvia passed away on September 15, 2025,

in Conroe TX at the age of 80.

Sylvia was raised in the church and accepted Christ at an early age. She was a devoted

member of Crisp Chapel Church of God in Christ in Leesville, Louisiana and God’s

Temple of Deliverance in Deridder, Louisiana for most of her years, later joining Purpose

Life Community Church in Leesville, Louisiana. Sylvia attended Vernon High School in

Leesville, Louisiana where she graduated as class Valedictorian. After high school,

Sylvia began her career of many roles on Fort Polk from finance to civil service and

ending as Chief of Admin in Engineering where she retired after 33 years of service.

During her career Sylvia received several acknowledgments. In May 1991, Department

of Army officially commended Sylvia on her outstanding actions for organizing,

scheduling and employing the resources of her division to accomplish the many missions

required by Operation Desert Shield/Storm. In September 2000, Department of The

Army presented Sylvia with the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service. Sylvia was

the second mother to many of her nieces, nephews, church members and numerous

people in the community and military service members as she loved and cared for

everyone. If anyone needed a prayer, a meal, or a listening ear, she was there. Sylvia’s

nickname, so graciously deserving was “Florence Nightingale”. Sylvia was an honorary

nurse during everyone’s time of need offering the best healing medicine there was,

Prayers. Sylvia sat with countless family members, friends and strangers singing and

praying even at times when she was not feeling well herself. Sylvia loved unselfishly,

which led to her being presented with the 2012 Florence Nightingale Humanitarian

Award during the McMarion-Keys-Duhon-Ware Family Reunion.

Sylvia met and married Robert H. Word and later married Lawrence M. Edwards and she

nursed Lawrence until the day he passed away.

Sylvia loved to sing with her sisters as they traveled to various churches with their father

as children. The Keys children became the Crisp Crusaders, spreading the love of the

Lord to all those that listened.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, Jasper H. Keys and Sylvia Nell McMarion

Keys, husbands, Robert H. Word and Lawrence M. Edwards, and siblings Leese Payton,

Cecillia Keys, Jasper Joseph Keys, and Katherin Keys. Those left to cherish her memory are two

children: daughter, Belinda Walden (San Antionio, Tx) and son, Bobby (Danielle) Word

(Magnolia, Tx); grandchildren, Bianca Word (Alexandria, La.), Morgan Robinson

(Houston, Tx), Bobby Word Jr.(Monroe, La.), Austin Word (Leesville, La.); great

grandchildren, Mariah Robinson and Marcus Washington Jr.; two brothers, Genesis

(Patricia) Keys and Joshua Keys (both of Dallas Tx); three sisters, Beatrice Piper (Baker,

La.), Esther (David) Rabb (Haughton, La.), Princess (Dennis) Copeland (Belton Tx.); and

an abundance of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Funeral services for Sylvia will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Johnson Temple Church of God in Christ with Pastor Jeff Hannon officiating, and the service will be livestreamed through the church’s Facebook page. The burial will follow in the Leesville Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Sylvia’s memory to the Leesville Citywide Singing Convention.