A Private Catholic funeral service for Mrs. Frances Carol Carr Sykes, 75 of Tampa, Florida, who passed away surrounded by her loving family on July 12, 2020, will be held on Wednesday, July 22nd, 11:00 a.m., at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 1203 N. Nebraska Ave.Father Theobald Weria,officiating. Interment will be inFlorida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.

Frances was preceded by her parents the late George William, Jr. and Irene Caldwell Carr. Frances was educated in the Hillsborough County Public School System, attending Harlem Elementary School and in 1962 graduated with highest honors as valedictorian of her class from Howard W. Blake Junior-Senior High School. Frances chose to continue her studies at her mother's alma mater, Florida A &M University. As a student in the School of Pharmacy, she earned the Lehn and Fink Gold Medal awarded to the graduating senior with the highest GPA and the Rexall Mortar and Pestle awarded foroutstanding leadership. She graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. Francesinterned at Tampa General Hospital, eventually taking a full-time position and becoming the firstAfrican-American woman pharmacist at the hospital. After a rewarding career of 33 years, in hospitaland managed care pharmacy, she retired in 2000.

Frances was married to her high school sweetheart, Joseph Sykes, for more than 46 years and togetherthey were blessed to have three daughters. She was a longtime member of St. Peter Claver CatholicChurch, where she was an active member in the choir and served as a member of the School Board.Frances' love for service was also exemplified through her 54 year membership in The LinksIncorporated and her beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in which she was a Silver Star,denoting 25 years of continuous service.Throughout the years, Frances served on the Northside Mental Health Board of Directors, The Board ofTrustees for the Henry B. Plant Museum, the Southwest Florida Regional Cancer Control Plan, The Stateof Florida Cancer Research and Advisory Board, the National FAMU Alumni Association and a chartermember of the Greater Tampa Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and Club 44. She was also adedicated and proud member of the Class of 1962 Howard W. Blake Junior-Senior High School alumnigroup.Frances will be especially remembered for her love for her children, her faith, service, a kind yet strongspirit, her love of sports and dancing.

She leaves to cherish memories and to continue to celebrate herlife a devoted husband, Joseph Sykes; daughters, Carole Irene, Josette Rose, Stephanie Doreen; sister, Gladys Carr Blalock: sister-in-law, Dorothy Banks; nephew, Derrick Gaines (Stephanie); great nephews,Derrick Jr. and Myles Gaines; cousins, Bessie Rodriguez, Normita Rodriguez Jeffery (Tim), AntoinetteGoodman, William Brown (Juliette), and Blanche White (Danny); the Preston and Fields families ofQuincy, Florida. the Sykes and Gardner families of Tallahassee; members of the Gamma Theta OmegaChapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Tampa (FL) Chapter of The Links, Inc.; and a host ofextended family and friends whose lives she touched as a friend, sorority sister, mentor, confidant, teacher, bonus mother and grandmother, cheerleader, decorator and loving person.

Funeral Mass
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church (Tampa, Florida, Nebraska Ave)
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
11:00 AM

Florida, Nebraska