With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our mother, Sylvia Ann Spillane White, who left this world, peacefully, to live with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, April 6th, 2025, in Scottsboro, Alabama, from a rare form of cancer just shy of her 81st birthday. Sylvia was born on April 14th, 1944, in Birmingham, Alabama, as the cherished daughter of Evelyn Francis Burch Spillane and James Mott Spillane. Her grandparents, Myrtle and Jim Burch - whom she called "Mama and Daddy" - also played a significant role in raising her. She grew up in Tarrant City, outside of Birmingham, and graduated from Tarrant City High School. She then attended both Snead State Community College and Western Kentucky University. She married Larry White and remained in Tarrant City until relocating to Pisgah, Alabama in 1974 where they raised their children. In later years, she joined her children in Scottsboro, Alabama where she lived the remainder of her life. Sylvia lived a remarkable life, and she loved sharing stories with family and friends from her childhood. Her love of the beach began as a child when her Aunt Minnie took her crabbing in Mobile Bay and Dauphin Island. She also traveled by train or bus at any opportunity to visit her grandparents in Helena, Alabama, where her grandfather ran his coal mining business. Sylvia loved her days down at the mines, riding horses, fox hunting with cherished friends, and spending time with her grandparents. She also loved taking her children to her grandparents' home on Smith Lake, especially in the summertime. She found much joy in watching her children explore the rocky shoreline and swim in the emerald green waters in what her grandmother dubbed "diamond bay" due to the reflection of the moonlight and stars glistening off the water's surface. Her children have such wonderful memories of spending time with her at this much cherished place. Sylvia’s pride and joy was being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and she was at her happiest when she was surrounded by her family. She loved attending her children and grandchildren’s school activities whenever she could. Her life's priority was her family and she also loved spending time with her extended family members and friends at every opportunity possible. Sylvia was a woman of many talents, with a deep love for singing, playing the piano, oil painting, and gardening. She left a lasting impact on her community by sharing her musical gifts with Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Tarrant City, where she found great joy in contributing to the worship services. No family gathering felt complete until the younger members lovingly urged her to play/sing a favorite song—her voice a treasured tradition that brought everyone together. Another one of her most cherished gifts was her ability to connect deeply with individuals with special needs, offering them compassion, patience, and genuine love. She worked for the City of Scottsboro’s school system as an aide for children with learning and physical disabilities—a role that perfectly reflected her belief in the potential of every child. Her dedication left a lasting mark on many young lives, and she will be remembered as a nurturing presence to those who may have needed it most. Whenever asked, Sylvia gave the very best advice, encouraging all of her family and friends to focus on appreciating the good things in life to help deal with the difficult moments. Her absence will surely leave a hole that can never be filled, but the memories of the love she showed her family and friends and her endearing laughter are the gifts that her family will cherish for the rest of their lives. Her family was so lucky to have had a matriarch that taught them to love unconditionally and help equip them with the tools needed to build a happy, successful life. She is survived by her son, Ronnie White (Linda), and her daughter, Leigh White Petty (Alan), grandsons Ross Petty, Jordan White (Lindsey), AJ Petty (Emily), and Josh White, great-grandchildren Cooper White, Colter White, Chloe White, Josie Petty, and Truitt Petty, her ex-husband, friend, and father of her children, Larry White, her sister, JP Spillane (Phillip), and a host of adored extended family members. Sylvia was preceded in death by the following family members: Father: James Mott Spillane Mother: Evelyn Francis Burch Spillane Bonus Stepmother: Christine Spillane Grandfather: J.E. Burch Grandmother: Myrtle Lee Burch A memorial service to celebrate Sylvia’s life will be at Trinity Baptist Church in Scottsboro, Alabama on May 10th, 2025 with visitation from 1-2 and her memorial service at 2:00 p.m. For those wishing to do something special in Sylvia’s honor, we kindly suggest donating to the American Cancer Society or the Arc of Jackson County, at which she spent many years of devoted time.