Bronx, New York
Elder Sylvester Grant was born January 19, 1948, in Statesboro, Georgia to the late Letha Mae Grant and the late Buster Lovett. Sylvester was the oldest of ten children. He gained his “Angel Wings” February 8, 2023.
Sylvester was educated through the Bulloch County School system and was a 1967 graduate of William James High School. After graduation, he attended barbering school in Savannah, Georgia, and later moved to New Jersey to pursue his dreams.
In his childhood and young adult years, Sylvester was affectionately known as Man and with his friends as Sly.
Sylvester was employed as a police officer and a security guard. He was afforded work security for the ‘Apollo” theatre which was one of his life’s highlights.
Sylvester married the love of his life, the late Wilhelmina Neely, August 14, 1976, and to this union, two children were born, Anthony Grant and Barry Grant.
Sylvester gave his life to the Lord and became a member of the Redeemer Church of Christ, Inc. in Bronx, New York in 1988 under the leadership of Elder Ivory Kelly where he served as a deacon and later as an elder for over 35 years. Elder Grant was the coordinator for the Brotherhood Dept, founded the Redeemer Black History Celebration program, worked in evangelism with the track ministry, church treasurer, assistant moderator and later moderator of the Union Meeting for his district. Elder Grant was faithful in his service to God and to the church. He attended local, state, and national events in support of the Church of Christ Holiness unto the Lord.
Members of his local church remember him as faithful, a mentor, active, friendly, a people person, a team player, fair and cooperative. Some of his favorite sayings were, “When you see me coming, I got Georgia on my mind, Holy Ghost DWELL in me, I’m gonna stay under the blood and the world can do me no harm and Well Praise Hi. Some of his favorite songs were “This is the day that the Lord hath made” and “There’s a storm out on the ocean”.
Sylvester was a family man, a godly man, and a working man. Sylvester loved his boys and was very proud of their accomplishments; he also loved and was proud of his nieces and nephews and their accomplishments. He was a lover of history, especially black history, and civil rights. He was a faithful member of the masons (before salvation) and he enjoyed horseback riding (in his youth) and fishing. One of his favorite places was sitting on his mother’s porch in Statesboro, Georgia.
Sylvester leaves to cherish precious memories his beloved children, Anthony Grant, Bronx, NY, and Barry (Veronica) Grant, Blythewood, SC; two grandchildren, Hayden Denise Grant, and Sir Holden Grant, Blythewood, SC; three brothers, John W. Bennett and Dennis (Angel) Bennett of Statesboro, Georgia, Roy (Helen) Rich of Evans, Georgia; two sisters, Mary (Anthony) Bush of Augusta, Georgia and Brenda (Alfred) Golden of Midway, Georgia, one brother-in-law, Robert Neely of Waverly, FL, one sister-in-law, Minister Mary Neely of Augusta, Ga; two godchildren, Letreeche Rhodie, and D’Netra-Celeste Artis; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
A family visitation will be held 6 pm to 7 pm at the Ben Samuel Hill Memorial Chapel of Hill's Mortuary, Inc.
The homegoing celebration service for Elder Sylvester Grant, will be held at 11 am, Saturday March 4, 2023, at the Stevens Temple Church (HUTL) with the Elder Barry Kelly, officiating and the Elder Emory Hagins as eulogist. Burial will follow in the Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery.
Final rites have been entrusted to Hill's Mortuary, Inc.
