Sylvia Higginbotham
Posted: February 11, 2014
COLUMBUS- Sylvia R. Higginbotham, 72, died February 8, 2014, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. Services are Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard. There will be a visitation prior to the service at 1 p.m. Sylvia was born November 2, 1941, in Laurel Mississippi to Frank and Floye Robbins. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, the Reverend Joel Robbins; and sister, Marlene Sumrall. Sylvia was the most prolific writer of all things Columbus. She was a freelance travel writer as well as the author of the book Reflections, which details the history of the antebellum homes in Columbus. Sylvia also wrote the play “Mississippi, Music and Memories” one of the first fundraisers of the Columbus Arts Council and wrote many scripts for the Columbus Junior Auxiliary Pilgrimage Ball. She was the recipient of the Mississippi Travel Media Award for Tourism in 1994. She received numerous “ADDY” awards, given by the Golden Triangle Advertising Federation. Sylvia was the former executive director of the Columbus Historic Foundation and Columbus Arts Council. She was integral to the negotiations of the gift by the Rosenzweig family of the building, which now houses the Columbus Arts Council. She was a unique charismatic and very talented woman who genuinely cared for and loved all of those around her. This love and care was most apparent when having conversations with Sylvia. She had a gift of concerning herself solely and entirely with the your topic. Her fascination and love of communication had a way of making you feel as the most important person in the world. With optimism she always encouraged her family and friends to use their gifts to the maximum. Perhaps the best way to honor her is to use our individual gifts for the good of others. Her encouragement will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Weldon “Joe” Higginbotham; daughters, Saxonie Eicholtz (Tim) of Louisville, Kentucky and Shay Erazo (David) of Miami, Florida; and grandchildren, Sunny Eicholtz, Cosmo and Enzo Erazo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Diabetes Foundation.