Lasting Memories
Sybil I Florant
Feb. 4, 1928-Feb. 27, 2021
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by GREGORY FLORANT
Sybil Iona Buckmire Florant passed away on February 27, 2021 in Palo Alto, California, at the age of 93. She was born February 4, 1928 in Harlem, N.Y. Her Father, Percy Buckmire was from Grenada and her mother, Iona Buckmire was from Barbados. Sybil graduated from Evander Childs High School and earned an Associate degree in nursing in NYC. In 1950 she married Lester E. Florant. They lived in Englewood, N.J, until 1958 when they moved to Fife Avenue in Palo Alto, CA. This was a difficult move for a woman who considered herself a New Yorker! Sybil was a classy, sophisticated lady, who thought she would never survive without New York City. Over time, she discovered that she loved the West and missed the big city less and less. She and Lester moved to their home on Oregon Avenue in 1959. She attended San Jose State College while raising three boys, and in 1965 received her B.S. degree in public health. She quickly got a job with the Santa Clara County Health Department and worked diligently to improve the county’s public health for 40+ years. Sybil loved her family and friends, and she adored her 8 grandchildren. She particularly loved cooking for family get-togethers and sharing life stories. She loved to hike, cook, sew and knit. She and Lester traveled the world as often as they could. She was an ardent supporter of woman’s rights and was active in community affairs; she taught pre and post-natal care classes to young woman. She attended All Saints Episcopal Church in Palo Alto for most of her adult life. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends. She was beacon of light that shined in our lives and always made us feel loved.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lester Florant and her brother Ozzie Buckmire. She is survived by her sons: Gregory (Tracy), Mark (Jill) and Carl and eight grandchildren: Aria, Daniella (Philip Homnack), Alexandra, Raymond, Marissa MacKenzie, Kristofer, and Tommy.
March 24, 2021
She was Aunt Sybil Giving the best Easter baskets with those perfect See’s milk chocolate eggs. Taking my sister yvonne and I to the theater… To see Stephanie Mills in The Wiz…To have dinner with the conductor of the Oakland symphony and then to our first performance of The Nutcracker. I believe he was the first Black conductor in the Bay Area then (perhaps the country). Even as a young teen, I knew that we were being introduced not only to the performing arts, but to the contribution of African Americans in the arts. Only a few of her very conscious acts of grace. And the slide shows (literal, actual slides ) of her world travels with her true love, Les. I am now a world traveler and I realize that those slides inspired my dreams… She was not only Aunt Sybil, but our chosen grandmother. We love you and miss you.
March 22, 2021
Dear Florant family, My deepest sympathies on the death of your wonderful mother/grandmother, Sybil. I only met her in her later years as we sat together on the "back bench" at All Saints'--but her shining, determined spirit and kindness will always be with me. Even in her later years, she taught me wonderful lessons--as did her family. May she be safely in God's arms, and may you all be comforted by good memories of her in the days and years to come. Love, Lynne