Sybil Compton Meyers

Sybil Compton Williams Meyers, 91, passed away September 12, 2023, at Camellia Place in Woodstock, Georgia, with family members at her side. Sybil was born in a modest home on Due West Road in west Cobb County, Georgia, on January 10, 1932, to father Jesse Ernest Compton and mother Millie Imogene Williams Compton. The family moved to Atlanta for several years during her childhood, and during the time Shirley Temple was popular, Sybil took dance and singing lessons. At one point she shared the stage with a young Joanne Woodward, and even traveled to New York to perform onstage at the age of seven. In Sybil’s pre-teen years, the family returned to West Cobb, where she attended McEachern High School. As an older adult, she loved to recall her days on the McEachern basketball team, and often attributed her flexibility in later years to that experience. Sybil attended the University of Georgia on a Home Economics scholarship, but soon transitioned her studies to Journalism and excelled, ultimately graduating in 1953 as Valedictorian of her Journalism class. After graduation from UGA, Sybil worked at the Marietta Journal, and soon after became the first female editor of the Cobb County Times, managing the work of other journalists and writing her own articles for several years. Around this time, Sybil was the choir director at Crestview Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, where she met George Neal Williams, and they married at the church in a ceremony in 1954. She had four children between 1955 and 1967 while living in east Cobb County. While a busy mom, Sybil earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from Mercer University in Atlanta with a specialty in Gerontology. She later taught several sociology-related classes at Mercer and Kennesaw College and had an extended career in secondary education. In 1977, Sybil married Harold Douglas Meyers. They moved to Thomasville, Georgia, in 1980, where she worked for several years at Thomas County Community College. During this time, she helped organize and lead a movement to create and launch the Thomas County Cultural Center, which today is the thriving Thomasville Center for the Arts. Sybil moved back to Marietta in 1988, and over the years became a grandmother of ten and great-grandmother of eight. A committed advocate for older adults, Sybil served on the Board of Cobb Senior Services and founded the Lifelong Learning Center at Kennesaw State University, where she also worked in continuing education. After her retirement, she was director of the Enrichment of Life Movement (ELM) at First Methodist Church in Marietta, another role she cherished. Sybil also was a member of the Cherokee County Democrats and served for a time as the group’s executive board chair. Other things Sybil greatly enjoyed were writing poetry, turning thrift store bargains into beautiful additions to her home, listening to Willie Nelson and Pavarotti, and spending as much time with family as she could. She is survived by three of her children, Andy Williams (Donna), Julie Arnold (Oby), and Jim Williams (Melissa), and was pre-deceased by her son Bryan Williams (Linda). She dearly enjoyed and deeply loved her grandchildren, which include Ryan Williams, Jessica Vickery, Jenna Williams, Oby Arnold IV, Travis Williams, Susanna Reynolds, Blake Williams, Clay Williams, William Arnold, and Jaden Williams, and great-grandchildren, including Ford Arnold, Jake Williams, Verity Reynolds, Callie Reynolds, Ellie Williams, Teddy Reynolds, Wilder Vickery, and Shiloh Vickery. Sybil was pre-deceased by her sister, Frances Compton Tucker, and brother, Jesse Ernest Compton, Jr. She is survived by five nieces. Sybil lived a long life filled with creativity, compassion for others, and passion for the exploration and discussion of ideas. She will be deeply missed by so many family and friends who were fortunate to have had her in their lives. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, October 21 at Mayes Ward-Dobbins in Marietta, with visitation from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. and service at 2:00 p.m.

Sybil Compton Meyers

January 10, 1932 - September 12, 2023