Sylvia Hamilton Michelini
Decatur
Funeral for Sylvia Hamilton Michelini, 65, of Decatur will be Saturday, June 11, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Central Baptist Church with Dr. Rob Jackson and Dustin Roy Rogers officiating and Ridout's Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in the main auditorium of Central Baptist Church in Decatur. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Michelini, who died June 6, 2011, was born May 16, 1946, in Decatur to George B. and Dorothy Swatzell Hamilton. She was a lifelong resident of Decatur and a member of Central Baptist Church.
Sylvia graduated from Decatur High School in 1964, with honors. She attended Calhoun Junior College when it initially opened its doors, and became the first student to be awarded the Albert P. Brewer Award for academic excellence. Sylvia graduated from UAH Suma Cum Laude with a BSBA and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. During her early career, she taught at Calhoun and was a substitute teacher for the Decatur City Schools. She obtained her CPA License in 1987 and held positions as an auditor for both the Defense Contract Audit Agency and NASA's Inspector General Office in Huntsville, where she earned numerous awards for her service. Sylvia retired from NASA in 1998. She was a National Director of the Institute of Management Accountants and sat on the Ethics committee. She also served as chapter president for the Institute of Management Accountants and National Association of Accountants, was a member of the executive committee for the Association of Government Accountants and was a recipient of the Behn Taylor Award.
Sylvia was an avid fan of the early west, and explored the culture through travel, research, literature, music, and first-hand experiences. She was a lifetime member of the Western Music Association and actively participated in the activities and support of the organization. She enjoyed following the family of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and enjoyed following the country western music careers of her late uncle, "Dobro King" Tom Swatzell, and her friend, singer/ songwriter, Kata Hay.
Sylvia was known for her kind heart and friendship to all, being generous with love and support for family, friends, and strangers in need. Throughout her life, she put the concerns of others first, beginning in her childhood as she took time to visit and read to shut-ins, and continuing as she offered her assistance to many in spite of her own long illness. Her love and concern extended to animals and she was a devoted "mom" to a variety of pets.
Among her many accomplishments, awards, and titles, perhaps her most cherished was the title of "Mimi" to her four grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Col. (Ret.) H. Stewart Michelini; her son, Stewart A. "Tony" Michelini of Decatur; her daughter, Cynthia M. Bembry and son-in-law, Timothy W. Bembry of Homewood; her grandchildren, Peyton H. Bembry, Parker H. Bembry, Holden S. Bembry and Madeline Rose Bembry, all of Homewood; her sister, Carolyn H. Richardson of Priceville; two nieces, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, George B. Hamilton and her mother, Dorothy Rose Swatzell Hamilton of Decatur.
The family would like to acknowledge the love and support of Sylvia's longtime caregiver, Libby Craig.
Pallbearers will be Peyton Bembry, Brad Allen, Bobby Pruitt, Darryl Walker, Joe Terrell and John Thomas.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Hospice of the Valley, Decatur.