Fred A. Sylvester

Fred A. Sylvester Jr, 78, returned to his heavenly home on January 11, 2019 after a valiant battle with brain cancer. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him and ultimately gave him peace.
Fred was born to the late Fred A. and Edith Sylvester in Charleston, SC on April 7, 1940.  He was a pastor for more than 50 years in the Church of God, a public school teacher, and a college professor.  He gave his heart to the Lord on September 8, 1958 while attending King Street Church of God (now the International Church of God) in Charleston, SC.  He went on to attend Southern Tech in Atlanta, GA a couple weeks later in the fall of 1958 and attended Wednesday night services at the Hemphill Church (now Mount Paran Church of God) in Atlanta, GA.  It was November of 1958 when he first felt the call to preach, after Thanksgiving he attended the Lee College Day event with a group from the Hemphill Church.  God assured him that day he was to attend Lee College.  After finishing the fall semester at Southern Tech, he enrolled at Lee College in Cleveland, TN for the spring semester in 1959.  He began preaching in the summer of 1959, graduated from Lee College in 1966 with a BA degree in Christian Education, and later obtained a Master of Education degree from The Citadel in 1975 and Master of Divinity from The Church of God Theological seminary in 2007.  Fred first pastored and evangelized in California, went to the mission field in Peru and Chile, South America, and then pastored and evangelized in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and North Georgia.  He planted/pioneered the Mt. Pleasant Church of God in Mt. Pleasant, SC. and the Orange Park Church of God in Orange Park, FL along the way.    

Fred was blessed with a large and loving family. He married his best friend and love of his life Carole Barnes on December 17, 1960 in Charleston, SC. Fred and Carole had three children that they raised to love and serve God with their whole hearts.  He loved and spoiled his grandchildren every chance he could.  

Fred was a shepherd at heart. He was kind, genuine, hard-working, humble, and he never met a stranger.  He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace, smiling, laughing again, celebrating a race well run with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Fred is survived by his wife, Carole; his daughters Lisa Sylvester and Darlene Teague; his son Fred III; his grandchildren Danielle Roper, Josh Teague, Reagan Collier and Taylor Collier; and his brother, William Sylvester, his sisters Patricia Kinard and Sandra Shokes. He is preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of life service will be held for Fred at the Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel and Gardens at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 13, with public viewing at 2 p.m.  Reverend Terry Reece will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Hamilton Mill Memorial Gardens.

Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel 770-945-6924 Prayers, condolences and memories are gladly accepted at www.hamiltonmillchapel.com.