We lost a good and kind community leader this past week.

Sylvia Shy, who fought the good fight for life after being diagnosed with stage 4 HER2-positive cancer in 2002, passed on to a place that she believed with all of her heart was waiting for her.

When she found out that she had this often life-ending disease, she did not give up, but rather devoted her remaining years raising awareness and helping others deal with their struggles. She remained ever upbeat, and her personality made her last name seem like the worst fit possible.

Sylvia was always a fighter, succeeding in high school and moving on to receive a degree in management while graduating magna cum laude from Clayton State University.

She raised a family as a single mom and still had time to work at Lithonia Lighting, while never forsaking her devotion to her church, Richards Chapel United Methodist Church.

Sylvia was not a person who was always in the spotlight; she was the type of person who was just there when you needed her.

In addition to all the well deserved praise she is receiving in death, we were proud to see her become one of our Hometown Heroes this past year. The honor is one we sponsor along with General Mills in an effort to bring recognition to our community's everyday heroes. Sylvia was a shining example.

May God bless you and your family, Sylvia, and we're happy for you knowing you're resting in peace.