Sylvia S. (Burruss) Garrison

Sylvia S. Garrison, 81, of New Kensington, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 25, 2025.
She was born December 15, 1943 in Jeannette to the late Carnegie & Nina Jewel Eliard Burruss and was a 1961 graduate of Jeannette High School.

Surviving are her husband of 61 years, Garry Garrison, and daughter Francesca Yvonne Garrison.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Patricia Akin and brother Carnegie Burruss Jr.
Mrs. Garrison was the first black woman to be hired by Mellon Bank in New Kensington as a teller. Later in her career she was a trainer and instructor for bank tellers at several banks in Georgia. In Georgia she also received Top Of The Line Awards.

Sylvia decided to retire six months before she turned 50 years old when her husband was transferred back to Pennsylvania.  She then became more involved in her and her husband's charity activities.  She was treasurer of the New Kensington Health Clinic and the Weight Watchers' Exercise Programs.  Other activities included the Animal Protectors, Colonial Williamsburg, United Way, Battered Women, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Womens Right's Group, Westmoreland County Sheriff Reserve Unit and many more.  She also attended several Interior decoration schools. Throughout their marriage she enjoyed traveling with her husband.  As her husband would say, "She Cared.'
Viewing will be on Thursday, July 31, from 5-8pm in ROSS G. WALKER FUNERAL HOME LTD., 217 Freeport Road, New
Kensington where a service will be held Friday, August 1, at 11am by Rev. Darryl Johnson.  Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell.

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