Sylvia Sheffield Powell Petty

Sylvia Sheffield Powell Petty, 91, of Seminole, Florida passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on February 20, 2026.

Born January 24, 1935, in Birmingham, Alabama, Sylvia was the youngest of four children born to the late George W. Haun and Myrtice Poole Haun.

Sylvia met and wed James S. (Jimmy) Sheffield in 1954 and made their home in Marianna, Florida where they raised their four children, David, Dennis, Diane and Denise.  They shared 42 years of marriage together before Jimmy’s passing in 1996.

In 2000, she married Reid Powell of Marianna, Florida.  They were married for less than a year until his untimely passing.  

It was at a Billy Graham conference in 2003 where Sylvia met, W. Fred Petty, of Largo, Florida.  They married and made their home in Clearwater and Seminole, Florida, where they enjoyed 23 years of love, laughter and fun in their seventies, eighties and nineties.  Fred passed just ten days before Sylvia.

Sylvia worked as a homemaker, volunteer at First Baptist Church in the baby nursery, choir member and many years as chairman of the hospitality committee during her time in Marianna.  She was often the first to come to the aid of anyone in need with delicious food and a kind heart.

She was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Largo, Florida.  She loved playing bingo and working crossword puzzles.  She was always up for a practical joke and injecting humor into situations. One of her favorite sayings was, “Here’s the thing about it.  Life gets better with every decade”. She truly lived that. Sylvia was happiest when surrounded by her family and is best known for her cooking and hospitality, especially her Sheffield tacos, which are enjoyed and still talked about by many.

She is survived by her four children: David Sheffield (Barbara) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Dennis Sheffield of Nashville, Tennessee, Diane Sheffield Gregg (Glenn) of Forsyth, Georgia and Denise Sheffield Rose (Mark) of Tampa, Florida – by Reid Powell’s children, Mark Powell (Kay) of Marianna, Florida (and their children), and Susan Powell Padgett (Paul) of Dothan, Alabama (and their children) – and by W. Fred Petty’s children, Jacqueline Petty Bell (Dennis) of Largo, Florida (and their children and grandchildren), and Doug Petty (Michelle) of Mills River, North Carolina (and their children and grandchildren).

Sylvia’s grandchildren include: Jeremiah Sheffield (Victoria), Bethany Sheffield Vaughan (Jimmy), Michael Sheffield, all of Virginia Beach, Virginia,  Emily Gregg (Pat) of Stockholm, Sweden, Woody Gregg (Liz) of New York City, New York, James Rose of New York City, New York and Zan Rose of Tampa, Florida. She is survived by four great grandchildren:  Junior, Evan, and Stella Vaughan, and JJ Sheffield, all from Virginia Beach, VA

Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Marianna, Florida on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Celebration of Life service at 11:00 A.M.  Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens with Marianna Chapel Funeral Home directing.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the Lake Seminole Square employee fund in recognition of the love and exceptional care she received in Assisted Living over the last three years of her life.  Please mark donations “In Honor of Sylvia Petty” to:  Lake Seminole Square Holiday Gift Fund, 8333 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33776.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Lambe Family at Marianna Chapel Funeral Home.

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