Sybil Royster Zava Obituary

Sybil Royster Zava passed away August 29, at home in Oak Ridge. She was born in Victoria (Lunenburg County), Virginia on March 26, 1924. Sybil graduated with from Victoria High School in 1941 and attended business school in Richmond, Virginia. In June 1944, Sybil married Thomas Eugene Zava.

Sybil’s parents, William Henry Royster and Virginia Howerton Royster, each came from a family of farmers. She inherited a love for working in the soil and enjoyed gardening and studying and collecting wildflowers. Sybil worked at home for many years before working at ORTEC and Oak Ridge High School as a secretary. In 1984 she devoted full time to travelling and gardening with her husband, Tom. Sybil was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Eugene Zava, parents William Henry Royster and Virginia Howerton Royster, sisters Josephine Barnes, Sadie Terry, and brother, Elliott Royster. She is survived by her daughter Andrea Zava and husband Dan Wilson; sons David Zava and wife Sherri; and Bill Zava and wife Lauren. Sybil is also survived by her grandchildren Clay Zava and wife Katharyn (Wilmington, NC), Ted Zava, Corinna Zava Millar and husband Nathan (Portland, OR); Emily Taylor and husband Reggie (Memphis, TN); Louis Zava, June Zava (Germantown, TN); Dana Wilson Litke and husband Andrew (Falls Church, VA); and great-grandchildren Mathea and Hallie Zava (Mother Cynthia Marcusson) (Chapel,NC), Penelope and Vivienne Zava (Wilmington, NC); Rowan Taylor (Memphis, TN); Esme Zava (Germantown, TN); and, Rebekah Litke (Falls Church, VA). Sybil is also survived by many nieces and nephews from the Barnes, Terry, Zava, Royster, and Garrett families in Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina.

Sybil was a member of First Baptist Church, volunteering as Sunday School teacher and assisting Tom in his deacon responsibilities. Sybil did extensive genealogy research on her family history which led to membership in the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Daughters of the American Revolution. She devoted many hours conducting tours and doing grounds maintenance for the Bleak House in Knoxville (United Daughters of the Confederacy). Sybil was one of very few real Granddaughters in UDC. She enthusiastically embraced square and round dancing, gardening, wildflower trips, sewing, couponing, and traveling through all of the continental United States.

The family is extremely grateful for the excellent and special care she received from Jerry Lindsay, Teresa Dixson, Dana Harding, and Linda Holt, all of whom had a very special place in Sybil and Tom’s heart.

Services were held at Martin Funeral Home in Oak Ridge from 12:30-2:30 on Saturday, September 8 with a graveside service at Anderson Memorial Gardens.