Sylvia Greer James, age 87, of Huntington, Connecticut died on July 21, 2017. She was born in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 27, 1929 the fourth of four daughters to Etta and Henry Greer. She graduated from high school at age 15 and attended Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee where she received a B.S. degree. She studied pre-med at the University of Michigan where she met her husband of fifty years, Robert Bronson James, Sr. who deceased in 2001. She received both a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and the Gifted and Talented Endorsement from Purdue University in South Bend, Indiana.

She was employed at Illinois Bell Telephone Co. as the first Black Service Representative in the State of Indiana.

She began her teaching career in Gary, Indiana at Garnett School and in doing so, she continued a line of family educators dating back to 1870 and the opening of free schools for Blacks in South Carolina. Later, she served as Math/Science Resource teacher serving in seven different schools. Subsequently, she became Assistant Principal of Jefferson School, Principal of Franklin School and finally Principal of Banneker Gifted and Talented School, all in Indiana.

She was a life member of the NAACP, a member and volunteer of the Gary Urban League, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Milford Connecticut Chapter of the Links Inc. and the Bridgeport Retired Teachers Association.  

She served as Vice President on the Board of the Gary’s YWCA and on the Board of Visiting Nurses Association, N.W. Indiana. She served as President of the Lake County, Retired Teachers Association and Congressional District Coordinator for the VOTE-AARP, all in Indiana.

She enjoyed people and made friends easily. 

She is survived by her two sons Robert B. James, Jr. of Huntington, Connecticut and Henry G. James of East Lansing, Michigan, three grandsons, Robert James III, David and Justin James, three granddaughters, Laura, Lisa and Savannah James, one niece Carol G. Smith, one nephew Craig S. Smith M.D. and many other relatives and friends.

Friends and family are invited to attend her funeral services on Friday at 10:15 a.m. at the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd., Trumbull and at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 5958 Main St., Trumbull. Interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Funeral Home.

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