Sylvia Anita Caylor Austin died in the early morning of June 3, 2015 in Falmouth, Maine. Sylvia was born March 12, 1939, to James Henry Caylor and Cornelia McGowen Caylor (both deceased) in Birmingham, Alabama. She grew up in Bullock County, Alabama, with her younger brother, James (“Jimmy”) and her younger sister, Angela (“Angie”). Sylvia would marry Robert Dekalb (Bob) Austin, her partner for 51 years and have two sons, Robert Daniel Austin, currently of Copenhagen, Denmark, and James Christopher Austin, who lives in Portland, Maine.

Sylvia graduated as salutatorian from Inverness High School and attended nursing school in Columbus, Georgia. After graduating, she worked as a registered nurse at Edge Memorial Hospital in Troy, Alabama, and then at Fort Pierce Memorial Hospital in Fort Pierce, Florida. Soon she became an instructor of nursing at Indian River Community College, also in Fort. Pierce.

In recognition of her professional achievements, she received the Nursing Educator of the Year Award for the state of Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine, and a master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. After living in Fort Pierce for 22 years, and raising her two sons, she moved with Bob to Niceville, Florida, and established the Practical Nursing program at Okaloosa Applied Technology Center in Fort Walton Beach.

Sylvia is survived by her brother and sister, her two sons, and four grandchildren: Lillian, Evelyn, Daniel, and Jacob.

There will be a viewing at Gray Funeral Home Monday June 8, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A celebration of her life will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Hilliard United Methodist Church in Bullock County, Alabama, with the Rev. Patrick McWhorter, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Ramah Church cemetery in Josie, Alabama.

Those who wish to make a charitable donation in lieu of flowers are encouraged by Sylvia’s family to contribute to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; online donations can be made via the Foundation’s website (goo.gl/QQahVl).