Honoring Sylvia’s gifts

Sylvia A. King was an active supporter of Lupus Alliance, and worked closely with other health-related organizations including the Arthritis Foundation.  As a lupus survivor, Sylvia was a popular speaker on lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and the personal challenges associated with living with a chronic medical condition. Although Sylvia lived with lupus for two-thirds of her life, she did not let the chronic disease get in the way of accomplishing her goals. 

Despite her personal battle with lupus, Sylvia managed to be a role model and inspiration for her family and friends and to complete three degrees: AA degree in Marketing; BA degree in Management & Organizational Development; and, a MSA degree in Human Resources Management. 

Sylvia advocated for research and public awareness of the chronic disease that affects approximately two million Americans, most of whom are women. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system, instead of serving only its normal protective functions, forms antibodies that attack healthy tissues and organs causing inflammation and complications involving the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, and heart. Lupus is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans.   Lupus has no medical cure - its cause was unknown.  In 2000, Sylvia developed the Southfield Michigan Lupus Support Group which serves over 80 women in Southfield, Detroit, Royal Oak, Novi, Farmington Hills and neighboring communities. Monthly support meetings are held on the second Saturday at Providence Hospital.  The group was hosts an Annual Lupus Awareness Luncheon at Vassels Banquet Hall in Southfield each year in October.

Sylvia was an engaging and compassionate community speaker for the Arthritis Foundation and Lupus Alliance, Southfield Public Schools, Women Empowered Inc., a member of the Chronic Illness Coalition and the Lupus Foundation, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, and Life Member of the NAACP.  She was also currently in the process of creating a lupus survivors network for lupus patients.

Sylvia’s view of life:
"I am satisfied and happy about my life. I have achieved what I wanted both academically and professionally. With lupus, you must make lifestyle adjustments that help fight the disease and give you an improved sense of well being". 

“We of the Southfield Lupus Support Group, join with you all in celebrating the life of Sylvia Anne King.  We are in absolute agreement when Sylvia is remembered as a true Christian woman, a woman of impeccable integrity, a woman of valor and courage, dedicated and committed to serving and advocating – not just for people living and struggling with lupus, but also encouraging, and informing the families of lupus patients to be supportive, to lend a hand, to be helpful.   It says in Nehemiah 8:10: "Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  We offer this verse to the King family as we look to it ourselves for consolation and solace.  Thank you.  May God Bless Us All.”
The Southfield Michigan Lupus Support Group