Obituary of Sylvia M. Johnson

Sylvia M. Johnson, 85, of 504 Chautauqua Avenue, Jamestown, died at 10:00 PM Monday (February 2, 2015) at UPMC Hamot, Erie, Pa. A Jamestown resident the past 67 years, she was born November 4, 1929 in Gowanda, N.Y., the daughter of LeRoy DeVillo and Blanche Belle (Fisher) Meacham of 47 North Franklin Street, Cattaraugus, N.Y. A 1947 graduate of Cattaraugus Central High School, Cattaraugus, N.Y., and a 1948 graduate of The International Academy of Beauty Culture, Buffalo, N.Y., Sylvia moved to Jamestown to begin her work career at The Charm Beauty Shop located in The Hotel Jamestown, where, through her skill and artistry, she quickly attracted a loyal following of customers with whom she enjoyed working until she became a fulltime housewife and homemaker. Before her retirement in 1992, she served for 22 years as secretary of Christ First United Methodist Church, Jamestown. In addition to serving as church secretary, Sylvia was a devoted and active member of Christ First United Methodist Church for over 65 years, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, serving on and chairing numerous church committees, coordinating the prayer and food cupboard ministries, heading the Altar Guild, and chairing the History and Records Committee, the work of which she was particularly proud. Possessing a keen, and lifetime interest in history, especially family history, Sylvia, as a descendant of Revolutionary War Patriot, The Rev. William Waite, White Creek, N.Y. (Battle of Bennington, 1777), was a member of the Jamestown Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution for over thirty years, during which time she served in many different capacities, including chaplain and board secretary, and particularly enjoyed conducting tours of the chapter's headquarters housed in the historic Porter Sheldon mansion on Prospect Street. A descendant of London merchant and Mayflower passenger, Richard Warren, Sylvia was a longtime member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was especially interested in her Waite family lineage and looked forward every year to the annual Waite Family Reunion that she helped to organize and that attracted cousins of varying degrees from throughout Western New York and beyond. Among her other memberships and community involvements were longtime membership in the American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, Inc., including service on its board and membership on its Hemslojd Committee of which she was a founding member; participation in the Scandinavian Studies Program at JCC; and the Mozart Club in which she served in various capacities. A talented artist, Sylvia for many years studied watercolor painting and porcelain decoration under the guidance of the late Joyce Swanson, her longtime teacher and friend. Sylvia was active in several china decorating clubs and groups of painting friends through which she was able to expand her range of techniques and skills, both traditional and innovative, and develop her artistry more fully. Sylvia made many friends through china decorating and enjoyed the times they spent together in their study and sharing of their artwork with the local community through various art shows organized and held over the years. Sylvia was an accomplished bridge player and, especially in her later years, belonged to several bridge clubs and played several times each week. She made many cherished friendships through bridge and looked forward each week to spending time with her bridge friends. Sylvia and her husband, Paul, for many years enjoyed square dancing and round dancing and the many friends they made through their membership in the Jamestown-area Chau-Tau Squares and clubs in Warren, Corry, and Erie, Pa. Dancing afforded Paul and Sylvia numerous opportunities for travel, both at home and abroad. Surviving are her husband of 63 years, Paul R. Johnson, whom she married on June 16, 1951 in the downtown Jamestown First M.E. Church (The Rev. Dr. Harold A. McCurdy officiating); a son, Paul R. Johnson, Esq. of Jamestown; a daughter, Shirley A. (Steven) Landy of Jamestown; two grandsons, Steven P. Landy of Stafford Springs, Conn., and Dr. Brooks P. Landy of Dania Beach, Fla.; two nieces, Dixie Meacham Terhune and Judy Meacham Oakes, both of Salamanca, N.Y.; many great, great great, and great great great nieces and nephews; and two cousins to whom she was particularly close, Pauline Burroughs Updyke of Little Valley, N.Y., and Norma Fisher Bissell of Cattaraugus, N.Y. Besides her parents, Sylvia was preceded in death by her step-father, Elmer H. Fleckenstein of Cattaraugus, N.Y. (January 2, 1976); her two brothers, Norris H. Meacham of Lockport, N.Y. (March 2, 1974), and Russell H. Meacham of Bangor, Me. (September 26, 1995); and nephew, Terry Russell Meacham, Sr. of Kill Buck, N.Y. (November 7, 2014). Sylvia will be remembered by her family and extensive network of friends not only for her boundless energy, zest for life, love of people, and kindness, but most importantly, for her unwavering Christian faith and her passion for helping and encouraging others. She was a vibrant, happy, optimist who, in addition to always extending a helping hand, shared a smile of joy and a belief that, by God's grace, tomorrow will be a wonderful day. She continually thanked God for the special blessing of her two grandsons, whom she adored. The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday at Christ First United Methodist Church, 663 Lakeview Avenue, Jamestown, N.Y. The Rev. Natalie A. Hanson, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home, where members of the Jamestown Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will conduct a service at 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Christ First United Methodist Church, 663 Lakeview Avenue, Jamestown, N.Y. 14701. You may light a candle in remembrance of Sylvia at www.lindfuneralhome.com.