Shirley Gupton Sykes died on February 22, 2025 at her home in Norfolk, VA.  She was born May 9, 1932 in the farming community of Red Bud, NC in Franklin County.

She retired from Old Dominion University after serving for years as the Executive Administrative Assistant in the Educational Leadership Department.  More important in her eyes was raising four children with her husband of fifty-six years, Rev. John D. Sykes, Sr.

During John’s pastorates at Moyock Baptist Church and Brentwood Baptist Church, she supported him in every way; indeed, theirs was a joint ministry.

She is survived by her brother Alex Gupton; her children, John Sykes, Jr., Jayne Scholl, Shearon Williams, and Paul Sykes, her primary caregiver; she was also the doting grandmother of Daniel and Owen, Jennifer, Laura, and Matthew, Amy, Danny, and Andrew, and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Azalea Baptist Church, 3314 East Little Creek Rd, Norfolk, VA 23518, at 1 pm on April 5, 2025 and livestreamed at www.azaleabaptist.org.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be sent to Azalea Baptist Church.