Sydney Elizabeth (Smith) Cosby

Sydney Elizabeth Cosby, age 84, known to many as Mama Syd, died Saturday, April 11, 2020 at the Coleman County Medical Center.  There will be a come-and-go visitation on Monday, April 13, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel.  Due to COVID restrictions, a maximum of ten people can be in our facility at one  time.  The graveside service will be private and will be officiated by Syd’s two sons-in-law, Shalor Townzen and Archie Roberts.  It will be live-streamed through Stevens Funeral Home Facebook account and after the service, it will be available for viewing on our website at www.livingmemorials.com.

Sydney Elizabeth Smith was born on July 1, 1935 in Childress County, Texas, a daughter of Sidney Leo Smith and Elizabeth Williams Smith.  She grew up in Childress where she attended school, graduating from high school in 1953.  She attended North Texas State University in Denton.  On July 19, 1958 she married Jack Cosby in Childress, in the home of her parents,  and he preceded her in death on September 30, 2007.  Syd was a teacher’s aide for the Pyote and Sanderson school districts.  In 1979, they moved to Coleman County where she worked for Talpa-Centennial and Panther Creek school districts.  She was a substitute teacher for Coleman Elementary School for over 10 years, where many students remembered her fondly  and were always asking her about the “Boa Constrictor.”

Syd was a member of Elm Street Church of Christ where she was a Sunday School teacher for many years there as well as in other congregations in communities where they lived.  For a number of years she was a teacher at Tuesday School, a children’s  outreach of Elm Street Church of Christ.   She was a faithful helper for Meals on Wheels.  She was an expert seamstress and could sew anything, including band uniforms, wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses.  She greatly enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include three daughters, Kathleen Townzen and husband Shalor of Columbus, Carole Cosby of Woodson, and Amy Roberts and husband Archie of Coleman; two sisters, Judy Johnson and husband A. J. and Pat Swindell and husband Gary, all of Childress; three sisters-in-law, Lawanna Smith of Lubbock,  Charlene Smith of Childress and Lameda Batten of Ennis; eight grandchildren, Dade Cosby and wife Laura, Kandys Mills Dunn and husband Lance, Tyler Mills and wife Krysten, Grayson Townzen and wife Candace, Travis Townzen, Josh Roberts and wife Toetu, Madison Roberts Reaser and husband Justin, and Meghan Roberts; twelve great-grandchildren, Audrey, Emily, Daniel, Wade, Abbey, Aaden, Damian, Emery, Sydney, Hayes, Emerson and Stetson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two brothers, Jerry Smith and Jackie Smith.

The family suggest memorials be made to Meals on Wheels, c/o Coleman Senior Citizens Center, 916 S. Concho Street, Coleman, Texas 76834.

Please leave kind thoughts and condolences for the family at www.livingmemorials.com.