Contribute to Once a Soldier in memory of Sylvester

In memory of

Sylvester Williams

Elkhart, IN, USA

May 30, 1951 - March 29, 2019

May 30, 1951 - Mar 29, 2019

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Sylvester Williams, 67, of Elkhart, passed away unexpectedly at the Emergency Department of Elkhart General Hospital from complications of Agent Orange exposure during his military service in Vietnam on Friday, Mar. 29, 2019 at 8:33 am.

He was born in Dell, AR on May 30, 1951 to the late Matthew Williams Sr. and Ruth (Jackson) Childress, who survives him. He later married Carmen L. Williams on Dec. 15, 2015. She survives as well.

Also left to cherish his memory are daughters Sylesta Morgan, Tamara (Dale) Allen and Kayla Bellephant; sons Sylvester (Adrienne) Brown, and Quinn and Kaanan White; grandchildren Amani Morgan, Joshua Chapman, Aviance Allen, Da’Sean Malone and Trey’Sean, Jocelyn, Aubrey and Kaliyha Brown; brothers Andrew (Susie), Levester, Harold (Pearl), George (Joyce) and Matthew Williams, Jr.; sisters Ora Lee (Henry) House, Annie Ruth House, Ollie Rae Williams, Catharine (Cecil) Taylor, Alice Williams and Earline (Lewis) Childress; as well as a host of family and friends. He is preceded in death by a sister, Rebecca Williams.

Sly’s life will be celebrated at the Willowdale Church of Christ, 1400 Willowdale Ave., Elkhart on Saturday, Apr. 6, 2019 at 12:00 noon, with visitation beginning there at 11:00 am. Pastor Jared McLeod will officiate and burial with military honors rendered by the US Army Funeral Honor Guard and Elkhart DAV Post 19 will follow in the veteran’s section of Prairie Street Cemetery in Elkhart. Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elkhart have been assisting the family with arrangements.

Sly graduated from Jimtown High School and then served 17 years as a Sergeant in the United States Army, seeing duty in Vietnam, Germany and the United States. He went on to work at Manchester Tank until his retirement. He was a member of Willowdale Church and enjoyed watching old westerns, working out and cheering on his beloved Fighting Irish football team. He was also very proud of his military service and appreciated all who served as well. He was jovial and kind-hearted, always laughing and carrying on like he never knew a stranger. He seemed to have a nick-name for everyone, and it seemed that everyone returned the favor, lovingly addressing him as Sly, Fats, Fat Sam, Uncle Fat and Fatboy, which was given to him by his twin brother and best friend Levester. Memorials may be given to the family in care of his wife, Carmen. Contribute to Once a Soldier

About Once a Soldier

Once a Soldier helps Veteran families immediatley after a Veteran suicide. We arrange and negotiate funeral home services, fund up to $1,000 in financial aid to cover those costs, and provide Transcendental Meditation scholarships for peace of mind in the long run. We are all volunteer.

Frequently asked questions

Answered by a team member at Once a Soldier

What is your mission?

For the families, the suicide becomes the least of their problems. Paying for the funeral overwhelms and adds to their grief. With your help, we will become the preferred channel for those who care about our veteran families left behind after a soldier suicide.
How are donations used?

The Silver Lining Project responds to financial requests for help. There are two pinch points for the families after a suicide: flying the body home and the funeral home costs. We step in to get the body in the hands of their loved ones ASAP.

Emotionally, our Silver Lining Memorials encourages families to remember that their loved one who was once a soldier was also once a spouse, parent, child, football fan, bread-winner, funny, beautiful and more. It's the most rewarding part of your gift.
What can be done with a $100 donation?

Paying the bills directly tied to the funeral expenses and funding the support system behind it.
What progress has been made already thanks to your donors?

Our website is how families find us, as well as those thinking about suicide, struggling with PTSD. We've saved more lives than we've helped bury.
What is the history of your organization?

Their a misconception that the VA pays for a Veteran's burial. Veterans are entitled to a plot in a national cemetery, an in-ground marker and a 30-minute service. Seeing the sacrifice made by Veteran or active duty families, and thinking of their plight after a Veteran suicide motivated us to create the most streamline way of changing their lives. As a digital marketer, our founder and Board focus on reaching those in need. In 2018, our digital efforts to save lives and help families made us one of the information leaders in soldier suicide, PTSD and Veteran family affairs. January of 2019 kicked off our Silver Lining Project - the financial arm of our Silver Linings.