Chesapeake- Mrs. Jyancy Pernell Sykes Booker of the 600 block of Fernwood Farms Road departed this life April 11, 2008. Born on September 8, 1931 in Norfolk, she was the oldest daughter of the late David and Effie Sykes. A native of the Berkley Section of Norfolk, Mrs. Booker graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, and earned her bachelor?s degree in Education from Virginia State University in 1952. She was a primary school teacher with the Norfolk Public School System until her retirement in 1989.



Mrs. Booker was an active member of First Baptist Church, Berkley where she served as a Deaconess, a choir member, and the director of the children's choir.



Mrs. Booker participated actively in the Chesapeake Civic Chorus, Tidewater Area Musicians, and National Association of Negro Musicians. She was a patient ambassador for Dialysis Patient Citizens.



She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Harmor U. Booker; children, Kevin Booker (Rita), Karen Young (Geoffrey), and Karin Dancy (Joel); grandchildren, Geoffrey, Lauren, Jonathan, Nia, and Joshua; sisters, Greta Houston (Robert), Barbara Brown (Bernard), and Rita Reid; a dear cousin, Viola Myrick; a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, family members and loved ones.



A celebration of her life will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Berkley. Interment will follow at Roosevelt Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 pm - 8 pm Tuesday at First Baptist Church, Berkley. Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake is in charge of arrangements. We invite you to send a condolence message in the family's guestbook at www.pretlowandsons.com.



Special thanks are extended to Dr. Joel Bundy & Associates, and the team at Davita Dialysis, Battlefield Blvd in Chesapeake. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Baptist Church, Berkley Scholarship Fund or the National Kidney Foundation.