Sylvia M. Reynolds

Sylvia M. Rogers Reynolds, 81, of Milford, took Jesus’ hand and entered the Kingdom of Heaven at sunrise on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. 

Sylvia was born in Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford, Delaware to Alvin and Dorothy Rogers. She was a 1963 graduate of Milford High School. Sylvia never left her hometown of Milford. She met and married the love of her life, Leonard (Lenny) C. Reynolds, Jr. on June 14, 1963. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 46 years. In her early years, and during high school, she worked for JCPenney, State of Delaware, The Shadow Box, and Wharton and Barnard. Her true passion was finally found in working with children and she always said, “she was thankful for each child that she was fortunate enough to care of over the years.” Sylvia worked at Calvary Children’s Center and had a home day care, where the kids called her “Aunt Sylvia”. She then went to work for TLC, The Learning Center where she continued to teach and shape the lives of children she taught for many years. That is where she found her dream job as a preschool teacher and remained working with children until her retirement, when she then took care of her grandchildren. 

Next to her faith in God, her family was most important to her and she loved her friends. Sylvia treasured the simple moments in life and always put her family’s needs far ahead of her own. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, a good cup of hot tea, car rides to local ponds, Slaughter Beach, and her grandparents farmhouse that now belongs to the Vanderwende family. Most of all she loved reading her Bible and tried very hard to live by every word of it. Sylvia was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church and was actually on the Cradle Roll. Her relationship with Jesus grew over the years and was strengthened by her answered prayer for a husband that knew Jesus. She thanked God many times for sending her Lenny and she knew he was meant for her. Sylvia taught Sunday School, Bible School, went to Bible Studies and was a counselor at the Billy Graham crusade held at the Harrington Fairgrounds. She and her husband Lenny donated many Bibles to the community and coworkers. 

Sylvia leaves behind a legacy of deep love for her children and grandchildren. They brought her so much happiness and she taught them how to be there for each other and to always keep faith in God and look to him for guidance and answers. She is survived by her children, one son, Jeffrey A. Reynolds and his wife Suzanne, two daughters, Kristine L. Phillips and her husband Richard, and Jodi K. Brown, all of Milford;  six grandchildren, Daniel Phillips (Sean), Brittany Johnson, Taylor Reynolds (Brooke), Ethan Reynolds, Vincent Brown, and Kenzo Brown; a brother, Daniel A. Rogers and his wife Priscilla, a sister-in-law, Joanne Reynolds; nieces and nephews, Chad Rogers, Lisa Murabito (Joe), Jack Reynolds (Jennifer), Juliann Willey (Dan), and several great nieces and nephews and cousins. 

A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 1:00pm at Calvary Church, 301 SE Front Street, Milford, Delaware, where a visitation will be held from 11 AM - 1 PM. Interment will follow at Milford Community Cemetery. Flowers are appreciated and encouraged.

Arrangements are in the care of Berry-Short Funeral Homes, Milford, where online memories and condolences can be shared to the family at https://www.shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com