Carol E. Williams Sykes (February 2, 1940—September 17, 2014)
Carol Williams was from Chicago’s Morgan Park High School, where she was one of its first African-American cheerleaders. She was a student at the College, 1957-59. In her freshman year, she was a member of Orchesis, a women’s modern dance group, and the next year was a staff member for the 1959 Cyclone. She lived in James Hall the first year and in Loose Hall the second.
Thereafter, she obtained a B.A. degree from Roosevelt University and a Master’s from National Louis University. Then she was a teacher for the Chicago Board of Education until she retired in 1990.
Carol, for many years, was a member of committees and boards of the Art Institute of Chicago, a supporter and Board Member of the Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre and member of the Chicago chapters of Smartset and Girlfriends social clubs. She loved to travel and visited many countries.
On August 2, 1960, she married Weathers York “Sonny” Sykes. They had two children: Lori Denise Sykes Stewart (Rodney) and Stephen York Sykes, who survived her along with stepson Rev. Michael Gregory Sykes (Myra) and three grandchildren.
Duane W. Krohnke
