Sylvia Gray Reid

Sylvia Gray Reid, 86 of East New Market, passed away at her home on Wednesday August 11, 2010 with her loved ones around her. She was born in Crossroads on September 16, 1923, and was a daughter of the late Russell and Alma Richardson Lewis.

She attended schools in Vienna and graduated as Valedictorian of the class of 1940 of Vienna High School. In 1941 she was married to Joshua Clayton Gray. Mr. Gray passed away on July 14, 1948. For a number of years she stayed at home with her children and was involved in youth activities such as Girl Scouts, 4-H, MYF and Youth Choir. She had been very involved at the Vienna United Methodist Church, where she was organist and later had been involved at the East New Market United Methodist Church. In 1956 she went to work at Leggett's Department Store and worked her way up to assistant manager. Sylvia later became the first woman manager in the Leggett's Department Stores of Maryland and Virginia.

Sylvia had been very active in the American Legion Post 91 and the South Eastern Shore District. She had held many offices in the Legion including Department President of Maryland for 1994-1995, and she had also held office on the National level. She had been in failing health for several months when she passed away at her home on Wednesday evening.

She is survived by two daughters Carolyn Gray O'Connor of Cambridge and Suzanne Jean Gray of East New Market, three grandchildren Denise Parks Travis of Hamburg, PA, Michael Thomas O'Connor and his wife Lori O'Connor of Cambridge and Monica O'Connor Link and her husband William James Link, Jr. of Baltimore. She is also survived by seven great grandchildren Shannon Nicole Brown and her companion James Dean Truitt of Rhodesdale, Corey Joshua Travis of Rhodesdale, Jessica Noele Travis of Hamburg, PA, Sean Patrick O'Connor of Cambridge, Aiden Matthew O'Connor of Cambridge, Meghan Elizabeth O'Connor of Cambridge and William James Link III of Baltimore, two brothers Thomas R. Lewis and his wife Angelina Lewis of Washington State, David G. Lewis and his wife Beatrice Lewis of Cambridge, three sisters Estell Marie Wheller of Easton, Patricia Annette Wilkerson and her husband Arthur Wilkerson of Vienna and Judith Alma Townsend and her husband Robert Townsend of Salisbury and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by her longtime companion Wilber Leroy VanSant who passed away on March 18, 2005.

A funeral service will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:00 PM at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge with the Rev. Douglas M. Ridley officiating. Interment will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. and also during the hour preceding the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Coastal Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802. Pallbearers will be Corey Travis, Jimmy Truitt, Michael O'Connor, Sean O'Connor, Jim Link and Ronald Pickel. Honorary Bearers will be Aiden O'Connor and L.J. Link.