Celebrating the life of
Dr. Meldrim Lester Sykes
July 23, 1932 - December 31, 2013
Savannah- Dr. Meldrim Lester Sykes, DDS, 81, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2013.
He was born in Perry, Georgia, son of Meldrim and Lila Morgan Sykes. He moved to Savannah at a young age growing up on the Isle of Hope. Dr. Sykes graduated from Benedictine Military School and then attended Armstrong Junior College earning a bachelor's degree. He furthered his education in pre-dental at Mercer University and then graduated in 1959 from Emory University Dental School.
Dr. Sykes returned to Savannah to begin a practice of more than 45 years on Jones, Abercorn and Habersham Streets, retiring from his practice on East 68th Street. Dr. Sykes loved his patients and they loved him. Dr. Sykes is past president of the Savannah Dental Association, former member of the Lions Club and a longtime member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Savannah Golf Club, the Chatham Club, and since 1967, the Savannah Yacht Club.
Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Mary Niemeyer Sykes of Savannah; daughter, Dr. Leslie Sykes Long and her husband, Chris of Columbia, SC; son, Meldrim L. Sykes, Jr. of Savannah; and "Pop Pop to his two grandsons, Andrew and David Long of Columbia, SC.
Visitation: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2014 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
Funeral: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 4, 2014 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church conducted by Pastor Peter J. Hartmann.
Burial: The Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Kevin Dickinson, Dr. Felix Maher, Dr. Ernest Burriss, Mr. Mike Miller, Dr. Bobby Howell, Dr. Ellison Lanier, Dr. Harvey Morgan, and Mr. Andrew Long.
Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Savannah Dental Association.
Remembrances: Alzheimer's Research Center, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101-2595 or Humane Society of Greater Savannah, 7215 Sallie Mood Dr., Savannah, GA 31406.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com
Mary. I am very sorry to hear about Mel's passing. Best wishes for you and your family.
- Roy Blackburn, , OR
So sorry to hear about the loss of Dr. Sykes. Our thoughts are with you.
- Matt Grill, Savannah, GA
Thanks for the memories! Mel and Mary leased the Norwood Ave property where we founded and loved Norwood stables for 16 great years! So sorry to lose such a great man...
- sue hendricks, savannah, GA
May the Lord be with you and your family forever, Dr. Meldrim Sykes. Your friend and classmate at Benedictine, Bob
- Bob Oetgen, Guyton, GA
So sorry to hear about Dr Sykes. He will be missed sorely.
- Edna Gillis, Savannah, GA
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I will pray for your and your families.
- Beatrice Simmons, Richmond Hill, GA
My deepest sympathy to the Sykes family for the loss of your dear loved one. During this most difficult time, may you be comforted by the words of Isaiah25:8,'He will swallow up death forever. And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces.
- Annie Thomas, Snellville, GA
Mary and Family, Sorry to hear of Mel's passing, know you are in our prayers,Ann Taylor
- Ann Taylor, Pooler, GA
Our sincere condolences to the Sykes Family. Dr. Sykes was our dentist for many years until his retirement. He was a kind man and a wonderful dentist. So sorry for your loss. The Campbell Family
- Janet Campbell, Savannah, GA
Our hearts and prayers are with you at this time for your loss.
- Salas Family, Savannah, GA
So very sorry for your loss... my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
- Ruth Fincher, SAVANNAH, GA
Dear Mary, Please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of Mel.He was a true gentleman and I never heard an unkind word said about him.Please remember all of the happy times you spent together.You will be in my prayers going forward.
- Tom Mahoney, Savannah, GA
The world misses this fine, compassionate dentist. Our prayers and thoughts are with you during your loss. Rusty & Zan Miller
- Dr.&Mrs.Rusty Miller, Claxton, GA
My thoughts and prayers go out to you Mel and the rest of the family.
- Merv Rice, Savannah, GA
Dear Mary and Family. So sorry to learn of Mel's death. You all were such an important part of our Laura's life with the stable and horses. Wish I could come to the funeral; however, I had total knee replacement Dec. 10 and our precious Laura died Dec. 22. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. L.G. and Lou Hook
- L.G. and Lou Hook, Savannah, GA
Sykes family, Dr.Sykes will be greatly missed by many..what a very compassionate man he was and a great person to work for..I use to work for him on 68th Street many years ago. Praying for your family during this time of loss that God will give you the strength to make it through the coming year!
- Leslie Mock Lambright, winder, GA
Mary. I am very sorry to hear about Mel's passing. Best wishes for you and your family.
- Roy Blackburn, , OR
So sorry to hear about the loss of Dr. Sykes. Our thoughts are with you.
- Matt Grill, Savannah, GA
Thanks for the memories! Mel and Mary leased the Norwood Ave property where we founded and loved Norwood stables for 16 great years! So sorry to lose such a great man...
- sue hendricks, savannah, GA
May the Lord be with you and your family forever, Dr. Meldrim Sykes. Your friend and classmate at Benedictine, Bob
- Bob Oetgen, Guyton, GA
So sorry to hear about Dr Sykes. He will be missed sorely.
- Edna Gillis, Savannah, GA
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I will pray for your and your families.
- Beatrice Simmons, Richmond Hill, GA
My deepest sympathy to the Sykes family for the loss of your dear loved one. During this most difficult time, may you be comforted by the words of Isaiah25:8,'He will swallow up death forever. And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces.
- Annie Thomas, Snellville, GA
Mary and Family, Sorry to hear of Mel's passing, know you are in our prayers,Ann Taylor
- Ann Taylor, Pooler, GA
Our sincere condolences to the Sykes Family. Dr. Sykes was our dentist for many years until his retirement. He was a kind man and a wonderful dentist. So sorry for your loss. The Campbell Family
- Janet Campbell, Savannah, GA
Our hearts and prayers are with you at this time for your loss.
- Salas Family, Savannah, GA
So very sorry for your loss... my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
- Ruth Fincher, SAVANNAH, GA
Dear Mary, Please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of Mel.He was a true gentleman and I never heard an unkind word said about him.Please remember all of the happy times you spent together.You will be in my prayers going forward.
- Tom Mahoney, Savannah, GA
The world misses this fine, compassionate dentist. Our prayers and thoughts are with you during your loss. Rusty & Zan Miller
- Dr.&Mrs.Rusty Miller, Claxton, GA
My thoughts and prayers go out to you Mel and the rest of the family.
- Merv Rice, Savannah, GA
Dear Mary and Family. So sorry to learn of Mel's death. You all were such an important part of our Laura's life with the stable and horses. Wish I could come to the funeral; however, I had total knee replacement Dec. 10 and our precious Laura died Dec. 22. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. L.G. and Lou Hook
- L.G. and Lou Hook, Savannah, GA
Sykes family, Dr.Sykes will be greatly missed by many..what a very compassionate man he was and a great person to work for..I use to work for him on 68th Street many years ago. Praying for your family during this time of loss that God will give you the strength to make it through the coming year!
- Leslie Mock Lambright, winder, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
