Ann Syring

Hazel Annette Inglis Syring, a long-time resident of the Big Point community, died Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

Born August 21, 1938 in Fackler, Alabama, Ann moved to Pascagoula with her loving husband Shelby Robert (Bob) Syring, Jr. in the late 1950’s. 

Ann retired from the Mississippi Department of Transportation after 27 years of service while holding the rank of Master Sergeant.

Those who knew Ann will remember her boundless energy.  She was a true believer in not putting off until tomorrow what you can do today.  She never shied away from a task that many would consider to be too much for a woman to perform.  Her children often remember and laugh about her lawn care ensemble.  It was a pair of cut-off jeans, old cowgirl boots, a plaid button down shirt tied in a knot at the waste and a baseball cap.  What the neighbors thought about it was the farthest thing from her mind.  She had a job to do and she was going to get it done.  And, if it was getting dark she had a headlamp that would fit around that baseball cap.

If a fence row needed cleaning she would take care of that.  If the cows needed feeding she would take care of that.  If she saw you nailing shingles on the roof you could expect her to come walking down the street with her hammer and a nail apron.  Whatever needed tending in “her” garden would get tended.  These were not tasks that Ann took on half-heartedly or out of compulsion.  She loved it. 

Just as easily as she could dress down for the hard work, she could just as easily dress up for a night out on the town with her soulmate, Bob.  In their younger days they were known to “cut a rug” from time to time.  Bob was always so proud to be seen with Ann because he had no doubts that he was with the most beautiful woman in the place.

Fear did not inhibit her.  When she was much younger and had three young girls she had a job at a local convenience store in Pascagoula.  She was confronted by an armed robber and her only concern was for the safety of her three girls who were at the store with her that day.  She stood between the girls and the robber and as the story goes told him to take whatever he wanted but do not hurt those girls.  No fear was shown, only a determination to protect her most valuable assets.

And that was truly what was at the very core of her being – the safety and security of her family.  No mother hen trying to protect her chicks or she bear trying to protect her cubs could have mustered anymore resilience.   Her children always knew they had someone in their corner.

All those things that made Ann who she was will be missed but she will continue to live in the thoughts of those who knew her and loved her. 

She is survived by her children Anna Lynn (Donald) Cofield, Bobbie Gayle (Richard) Jones-DeLorey, Gina Leigh Savell, Shelby Robert Syring III and Boyce Ansel Miller and grandchildren William Van Easterling Jr., Christina Michael (Jared) Hammonds, Jessica Diane (Joey) Robertson, Gabe (Cicely Copia) Cofield, Patricia (Josh) Phillips, Theresa Gayle (Adam) Pearsons, Jennifer Leigh Savell and great grandchildren Caleb Ray Easterling, Michael H. Jones Hammond and Aleigha Phelps.

Visitation will be Saturday, April 13, 2019, 1:00-2:00pm, at O'Bryant-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula.  Funeral Service will begin at 2:00pm in the funeral home chapel.  The family will be having a private burial service to follow the funeral. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ann Syring, please visit our floral store.