Mrs. Sylvia "Bonny" Shipp passed away peacefully on January 7, 2012. The Homegoing service will be held on Saturday, January 14th, 11:00 a.m. at Rivers of Life Church, 301 Lakewood Dr., Brandon, Florida, Pastor Curtis Swafford, officiating. Interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Sylvia was affectionately referred to as "Bonny" by all who knew and loved her she spent her life in service to others. Led by her deep abiding faith in God, with love and support from her husband and family, Bonny had the gifts of creativity and laughter. A life-long resident of Tampa, Florida, Bonny was proud to be a member of the Howard W. Blake High School Class of 1960. In 1963, she married her high school sweetheart, Mr. Robert M. Shipp in a double ceremony, which they shared with their dear friends, the Late Freddie Brinson and Mrs. Irene Brinson. She received her Associate of Science degree from Clearwater Christian College and her Bachelor of Science degree from the Moody Bible Institute. An avid student of the Bible, Bonny served as an honored instructor with Bible Study Fellowship, and both she and her husband were the host/hostess for the Bill Gothard Seminars. Bonny was a dedicated member of Rivers of Life Church in Brandon, Florida. Bonny put her heart and soul into everything she did. For many years, she was her husband's personal "tailor" designing and sewing his business suits. She designed couture wedding gowns, hand sewing thousands of beads and sequences until it was just right. When she decided that she would learn to play piano: she mastered it. When she began to crochet and knit: she mastered it. Computers and desktop publishing: she mastered it. When she decided to create a back yard oasis, she did just that. Bonny never settled for "good enough," she always pushed toward perfection. Bonny was preceded in death by her parents, Mother Lillie Bell Barlow and Mr. Paul Crawford; her brother-in-law, Harold Shipp, and by her son, Mr. Robert M. Shipp, Jr. She is survived by many who will always love her and cherish their memories of her including her husband, Robert M. Shipp, Sr.; her son, Rodger (Nicola); grandchildren, D'Nae Shipp, Ashley Shipp, Michael Mosley, Davionna and David Carswell; brothers, Johnnie Crawford (Shirley) of Dallas, TX, and James Robinson (Barbara) of Odessa, FL; sisters, Flora Dawson, Lillie Carter of Ann Arbor, MI, Agnes Judge, and Norma Johnson of Atlanta, GA; brothers-in-law, John Shipp (Dorothy), Rev. Ronnie Shipp (Annette) and Irvin Shipp (Doris); sister-in-law, Shirley Shipp; and a host of grieving nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbors, and good friends. The viewing will be held at Rivers of Life Church on Friday, January 13th, from 5 to 8 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church. The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.