“Daddy, may I play outside? “Yes, you may, but remember to come inside before dark.” “Yes, Daddy.” “Oh, look Daddy, Tommy is riding his bike. May I ride my bike with him?” “Yes, you may, but you must be careful. Follow the rules!” “May Tommy and I have ice cream cones?” “No!” “Why not?” “Because you just had one a short while ago. Too much ice cream is not good for you.” “Oh well, I’ll just go outside and play with my friends, before it gets dark.” On August 29, 2007, our Sovereign God said “Yes” as he answered our prayers and restored and extended Korey’s life. For the next fourteen years, Korey walked, moved and had his being, and was blessed to achieve a quality of life he treasured, even with new challenges. On September 4, 2021, God again said “Yes!” He had compassion upon us and blessed us with grace and mercy when He spoke life to Korey yet again after a second cardiac arrest, after all life support was removed from his body. Korey was again blessed to enjoy precious time with his family and friends. On Monday May 9, 2022, our Father God yet again said, “Yes,” when He blessed Korey with a heartbeat after a third cardiac arrest. But on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 our Father, our Daddy, and our Sovereign and merciful God, who never makes a mistake, said “NO! No more ventilators. NO! No more needles, surgeries, heart attacks, pain, months-long hospital stays. NO! No more medicines, lonely days, lonely nights, heartaches, sad news, and no more long hours of treatment. No more medically-necessary limitations on eating and drinking. No more waiting and no more sickness. No more worries and cares of this life. This time, the answer is NO! But the victory is Yes! Enter into the joys of the Lord. To God be the glory for the great and mighty things He alone has done and is doing, and for the great and mighty things that He will do for each of us.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR KOREY JAVONN SYLVER Musical Prelude……………………………………………............….Luther Chambers Processional………………………...………………………Clergy, Family and Friends Solo…..… Encourage Yourself” (Donald Lawrence).....Rev. Dr. Trenace Richardson Founder and CEO of REAL Women Scripture Reading Old Testament..……………....Psalm 46:1-11….......................…Bro. James Bell New Testament……......…..Revelation 21:1-7...................…Rev. James Brown Prayer of Comfort………………………………...………….........Pastor Dennis Ruffin Open Arms Kingdom Ministry Dance Tribute……”Never Would Have Made It” (Marvin Sapp)…....…Nicole Ellis Reflections HP by Daryl Crosby Members: Charles Xavier Ali El, Arthur Lewis, and Tyrone Johnson Lifetime Friends by Rev. Jermaine Ellis Cedric Simmons, Cornelius Scott, Ro’Shawn Goldstone, Lawrence Watford, Alex Peake, Carlos Marrow, and Gibril Kuyateh FAMILY by Freeman, Malachi, and Kendrick White, and Aleia Blount Acknowledgments…………………………………….........………Minister of Records Silent Reading of Obituary & Photo Memories “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” (Boyz 11 Men)
Musical Medley…….………………………........……..…Rev. Dr. Trenace Richardson Eulogy…………………….............……………………...Bishop Dwight S. Riddick, Sr. Song of Praise.….“When Jesus Say Yes, Nobody Can Say No!” (Michelle Williams) Recessional……………………………………...……….….Clergy, Family and Friends
Korey JaVonn Sylver
was born on September 22, 1977 at Hampton General Hospital (Hampton, VA). He was the second of three children born to Herbert Owen and Peggy Bryant Sylver. He was preceded in death by his Dad Herbert O. Sylver, and his grandparents William and Lucy Sylver (Lynch), and Frank and Naomi Foy Bryant. Korey grew up in Hampton’s historic Aberdeen community, and was a member of the Aberdeen Raiders football team under the leadership of Coach Linwood Harper and Coach Gary Moore (Coach Mo’). As a young adult, Korey himself became an Aberdeen Raider’s coach. Educated in the Hampton Public Schools System, Korey attended Aberdeen Elementary School, Jefferson Davis Middle School (now Caesar Tarrant), and Bethel High School. While at Bethel, he traveled and performed with the Show Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Rose. He was also selected for lead roles as a member of the Drama Club. Upon high school graduation, Korey attended North Carolina A&T State University, where his major was Drama. He later attended Thomas Nelson Community College. Korey’s employment included Revco Drug Store, West Telemarketing, the Fannuel Group, (known now as Verizon), the
Denbigh House, (a vocational rehabilitation clubhouse for individuals with brain injury) and Goodwill Retail Center. While at the Denbigh House, Korey was invited to attend a session of the Virginia General Assembly to promote brain injury awareness. Korey wrote several articles for the Denbigh House’s newsletter, including an article on perseverance, which has inspired many. In his youth, Korey accepted Christ as his savior while attending Little Zion Baptist Church (Hampton), under the leadership of Pastor James Walter Dodd. He served as a child/youth usher and participated in all other activities for children and youth, including singing with the Angel Choir and the Young Voices of Zion young adult Choir. Korey became a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church in 1994. At Gethsemane, Korey was a member of New Dimensions Choir, the Media Ministry, and A.C.T. 2 Theater Ministry. Korey loved music and enjoyed recording music with his friends. One of their favorite songs was “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” by Boyz II Men. Korey loved to travel, and especially enjoyed taking his first cruise with his family in December 2019. Over the years, he developed a love for walking. After God delivered him from cardiac arrest in 2007, he would sometimes walk miles during a day,
and enjoyed time at the gym as well. Korey and his daughter Samaia, the joy of his life, spent quality time together, such as taking in a movie and a meal at one of their favorite restaurants, Greene Turtle. As a child, Samaia worked hard not to let her Dad defeat her at Monopoly, one of the many board games they would play on game night. Throughout her life, Korey was front and center as a proud father for EVERY major event, graduation and many other ceremonies for Samaia. She is his greatest gift and his proudest legacy. Korey’s nephews and nieces affectionately called him “Uncle K.” They always looked forward to visits with him, because he would excitedly join them at play, even if his favorite sports teams, the Philadelphia Eagles or Miami Dolphins, were playing. Korey never met strangers, and maintained lifelong friendships he developed during his childhood. Among his many friends, schoolmates and coworkers is a special group of friends called “HP.” The group members have always lightheartedly insisted they will never divulge the meaning of the name “HP.” From Korey’s family’s perspective, however, “HP” must stand for “Honorable People,” because that is who God has grown these men to be. Korey’s daughter, Samaia Cherie Sylver, remains to cherish his memory. Additionally,
Korey is survived by his mother, Peggy B. Sylver; siblings Raymond and NaKeisha Blount, Freeman and LaToya White, and adopted siblings Bryan and Anita Bennett; nephews and nieces Jenise and Aleia Blount, Malachi and Kendrick White, and Devin and Haili Bennett. Korey is also survived by aunts and uncles Alice Stewart, Sandra Sylver, Lucy Sylver, Rev. Jimmy and Ethel Darrisaw, W. Price and Naomi Goree, Linda Faye Bryant, and Pastor Sharon B. Sanders. Korey is further survived by his many cousins and special, lifelong friends, including the Flemming, Franklin, MacKey, Mumford, Powell, Jones and Ruffin families.
PERSEVERANCE by Korey J. Sylver
(for the Denbigh House Newsletter, January 16, 2015) One thing that I have learned to develop since having a TBI is perseverance. In the words of George E. Allen, “People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” Having a Traumatic Brain Injury prevents me from doing a lot of things as easily and quickly as I did them prior to my injury, but prior to my injury; I was also the type of person that would quit after one failed attempt. Now, I realize that in order for me to truly be successful in anything, I can’t give up at the first sign of failure. Because if I do throw in the towel every time things don’t go right the first time, I will never make any progress in life. Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors can be much more than just survivors; we also can overcome. And the only way to overcome is to be persistent with your plans and goals. Two main goals that I set for myself since acquiring my T.B.I. are regaining my driver’s license and obtaining my college degree. So far, the roads to these two goals have been very rough and I haven’t been able to smooth them out, but I will not stop trying. Achieving these goals will also be a great example for my daughter, who will see that her dad didn’t let obstacles stop him and in turn know that she can achieve anything that she sets her mind to achieve. “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.” Walter Elliott. Achieving these goals of mine is something that I can do, as long as I don’t quit the race. In 2016, after intensive training for brain injury survivors, including spending several months at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Fishersville, VA, Korey was blessed to realize his goal of regaining his driver’s license. And for the rest of his days, he continued to persevere.
HP and FRIENDS Daryl Crosby, Charles Xavier Ali El, Arthur Lewis, and Tyrone Taylor, Jr. Rev. Jermaine Ellis, Cedric Simmons, Cameron Womack, Shawn Goldstone, Lawrence Watford, Alex Peake, Carlos Marrow, and Gibril Kuyateh
Cousins, Friends and Deaconess
Did you send or bring a card or gift? Did you take time to text, post or call? Did you prepare or purchase a delicious meal or give us a gift card for our breakfast, lunch or dinner? Did you trim the yard, wipe, clean, dust or organize a thing or two? Did you come to visit, bringing items and staples from A-Z that we didn’t even know we needed? How very thoughtful of you! Did you pray for us day after day? Did you send or bring a tasty fruit basket or beautiful flowers? Did you drive us to our destination, or travel far or near to be right by our side? Yes, you did! It was you, and we are so very grateful and thankful to God for all that you did during this season. Your every act of kindness is appreciated so very much. To God be the glory, and we thank you! The Sylver Family would also like to thank each doctor, nurse and medical personnel member at Riverside Regional Medical Center (Newport News, VA), Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital (Richmond, VA), Personal Touch Home Health, Fresnius Dialysis Center (Newport News) and Davita Dialysis Center (Norfolk, VA). Not only did these providers render excellent care to Korey, but the family’s prayer is that countless others will benefit from the medical knowledge they gained because Korey JaVonn Sylver was their patient. We also thank the exceptional Denbigh House staff and club members, Goodwill Staff and co-workers, and Mrs. Natalie Opie-Dawson, Vocational Counselor for the Department of Rehabilitative Services.