Lida Sylvia McWilliams

**Family Arranged Services. Please contact the family directly for additional details and directions.**

Lida Sylvia McIlwain McWilliams, 89, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026. Born on April 27, 1937, in Artesia, MS, Lida Sylvia devoted her life to faith, family, and education.On August 25, 1957, she married the love of her life, Donald Lewis McWilliams. Together they built a life centered on Christian faith, service, and raising their three children. Whether you knew her as Lida or Sylvia, she lovingly supported Don's career, gracefully managing the many moves that took their family from south Mississippi to Knoxville, then to Detroit, Denver, Wichita, Omaha, Sioux City, the Dallas–Fort Worth area, and ultimately to Owasso, OK, where she settled to be near her son. Wherever life led them, Lida created a warm and loving home, found a strong church community, and sang in the choir until her final year. She loved music, crafts, singing, crossword puzzles, and reading to keep her mind sharp, and it remained sharp to the very end. The McWilliams family also shared a love of travel, exploring destinations across the U.S. and abroad through Donna's flight privileges with American Airlines, creating treasured memories together. While raising her family, Lida Sylvia earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee before going on to receive a Master of Elementary Education from Wichita State University. She dedicated most of her professional career to teaching second grade in the many communities where the family lived. One of Sylvia's proudest accomplishments was recognizing a growing need for Christian early childhood education and founding a daycare and preschool ministry at Westside Church in Omaha, where she served as both director and teacher. Wherever she taught, she created a nurturing environment where young children were encouraged to grow academically and spiritually, leaving a lasting impact on generations of families. Her patience, kindness, and love of learning touched the lives of countless children throughout the decades. Above all, Lida cherished her family and her relationship with Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her children, John McWilliams, Andrew McWilliams and daughter-in-law, Terryll, and Donna McWilliams; her granddaughter, Kathryn McWilliams; her grandsons, Justin McWilliams, Morgan Carter, Christopher Dallas, Samuel Dallas, and Joshua Dallas; her nieces; and many extended family members and dear friends whose lives were enriched by her love, beauty, wisdom, and gentle spirit.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Lewis McWilliams; her parents, John F. McIlwain and Lida (Mathews) McIlwain; her sisters; and her cherished grandson, Caleb.

Lida Sylvia will be remembered as a compassionate educator, a faithful servant of God, and a woman whose life's work helped shape generations of children. Her legacy lives on in the students she taught, the families she served, and the loved ones who will forever carry her memory in their hearts.

Family Arranged Celebration of Life services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, in the Alsup Chapel at Baptist Village of Owasso, 7410 N. 127th East Ave., Owasso, OK 74055. It was there that she spent her final years, making treasured new friends and enjoying a vibrant community of fellow believers in Jesus Christ. Her family finds comfort in knowing she was surrounded by faith, friendship, and love until the very end.

Arrangements were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry. Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.