Our Dear Mother, Sylvia Fralic Hartzog Meeks, sadly passed away on May 12th,
2022 at the age of 86. She died peacefully in the presence of her family, at Bethany
House in Auburn, Alabama after a brief illness.
Sylvia was born on October 15, 1935, to Marshall Lucurtis Fralic and Virgie
Marguerite Christian Fralic, in Loachapoka, Alabama. She spent her childhood and
teenage years in Notasulga, Loachapoka and Auburn, Alabama, and graduated from
Lee County High School in Auburn in 1953. Shortly after graduation Sylvia began
working at a radio station in Tuskegee, Alabama, where she met her future husband,
Johnnie Malcom Hartzog (d. October 28, 1995). Sylvia and Johnnie were married in
1953, and soon after moved to Ozark, Alabama for a brief time, eventually landing in
Greenville, Alabama where they made a family and their life together. Sylvia spent
the next 40 years of her life making a home in Greenville. She was certified as a
Registered Medical Technologist, and worked in the lab at LV Stabler Memorial
Hospital, where she would work for the next 25 years. She continually worked on
furthering her education during this time, as she achieved a Bachelor's of Science in
Microbiology from Auburn University of Montgomery in 1978, and subsequently a
Master's Degree in Education from the same school in 1987. Sylvia then began
teaching Biology and Chemistry at the High School level. She taught students at
Greenville High School and Fort Dale Academy for 10 years before retiring in 1997. She
was fond of saying she felt as if she learned much more than she taught.
After the passing of her first husband, Sylvia met William "Bill" Calvary Meeks
(d. December 4, 2014), and they were married in 1999. Sylvia then moved to Bill's
family home in Andalusia, Alabama, where she lived for the remainder of her life. Bill
and Sylvia led an active retirement together. They enjoyed traveling, and took trips as
far away as Ireland, Germany, Hawaii and Alaska. They were active members of the
First Presbyterian Church of Andalusia. They also spent a lot of time at the Andalusia
Country club, where Sylvia discovered a love for golf. She played multiple times a
week, and was an active member of the Andalusia Women's Golf Association.
Sylvia is survived by her children, Joni Hartzog Taylor (Tommy James Taylor);
John Gary Hartzog (Kathy Sexton Hartzog); her brother Ronald Marshall Fralic (Patricia
Prince Fralic); her grandchildren Joshua James Taylor (Khamesha Rhodes Taylor);
John Marshall Hartzog (Jordan Shields Hartzog); her great-grandchildren Jeanette
Lucille Taylor and Niya Morrow; Niece Brandy Fralic Anderson (Lewis Daryl Anderson);
Nephew Daniel Hartzog (Sherry Hartzog); uncle Douglas Fralic; and her loyal canine
companion Kate.
Mrs. Sylvia is to be interned at Magnolia Cemetery in Greenville, Alabama.
Visitation will be held on Monday May 16, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. A graveside
service will follow immediately at 2:00 PM with Reverend Tim Trent of Andalusia, AL
officiating and Dunklin Funeral Home directing.
In Lieu of flowers donations made be made to Hospice Angels c/o Bethany
House, 1171 Gatewood Dr. Building 100, Auburn, AL 36830