Sylvia Shelton Pressley of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was born on February 1, 1947, in Newport News, Virginia to Ferdinand and Gwendolyn Shelton. She passed away on December 28, 2023, in Staten Island, New York while visiting family members.

She attended Huntington and Peninsula Catholic High Schools, and Norfolk State and Saint Leo Universities, completing a BA in Psychology. She worked as a career telephone operator before joining the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and fulfilling one of her life-long goals – to become a film, stage, and historical character actress. She was also a licensed Minister and had recently been approved for Ordination training.

Ms. Pressley was a beloved and devoted mother, grandmother, classmate, friend, and prayer warrior. She had a wonderful sense of humor, an amiable and welcoming personality, and was often engaged in prayer groups, bible studies, and devotions with family, friends, and associates. A classmate of her oldest son recalled meeting Ms. Pressley more than 35 years ago, feeling warmly welcomed to the home, and her talking to him about the Lord. She was a grand lady.

Ms. Pressley is survived by oldest son, John Bandy, Jr.; middle son, Rodney Pressley and his wife Shannon Pressley; and youngest daughter, Charlotte St. Juste and her husband Glynn St. Juste. She is also blessed with grandchildren, Glynn Anderson, Jr., Dylan, and Dexter St. Juste, Mikael Fair, and a host of family, and friends. She will be greatly missed.

A viewing will be held at A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, 200 Butternut Drive, Fredericksburg, VA, 22408, on Monday, January 15, 2024, at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM.